Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Condemn Shocking Ujjain Rape Incident: A Call for Justice
On Friday, prominent Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra voiced their deep concerns and outrage over a horrifying incident of alleged rape that occurred in broad daylight in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The incident, which has sparked nationwide shock, was captured in a disturbing video that went viral on social media, revealing the brutal assault on a woman on a public road.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to social media to express her revulsion and call for societal introspection. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she described the incident as “extremely horrifying” and lamented the state of society. Her post read: “The incident of rape of a woman on the footpath in broad daylight in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, is extremely horrifying. Today, the whole country is stunned as to where our society is heading. According to reports, people passing by were making videos instead of saving the woman.” She further condemned the act, stating, “Humanity has been tarnished by such an incident on the holy land of Ujjain.”
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, also responded strongly to the disturbing reports from Ujjain, as well as a separate incident in Siddharth Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, where an ambulance driver and his assistant were accused of sexually harassing a patient’s wife. Gandhi’s statement on X highlighted the gravity of the situation: “The brutality against women in Ujjain and Siddharth Nagar is a blot on humanity. The continuously increasing crimes against women and the attitude of the police administration towards the victim and her family is a proof of the cruelty of the system and is a matter of serious concern for the country.”
Gandhi further criticized the current political climate, asserting that the government’s focus on propaganda has led to an insensitivity towards the plight of women. He stated, “Propaganda-centric governments have given birth to an insensitive system to create a false image of themselves, the biggest victims of which are women. The time has come to make serious efforts towards the moral upliftment of society for the safety of women—strict steps should be taken at every social, political, and administrative level. Better citizens give birth to better systems, and better systems create a better society.”
The Ujjain rape case has drawn significant attention to issues of safety and justice. According to police reports, the victim, a scrap collector, was coerced into drinking alcohol and then raped by a man named Lokesh, who had previously promised to marry her. The assault, occurring in the Agar Naka area, was captured by bystanders who chose to record the crime rather than intervene. Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Mishra confirmed that Lokesh has been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.
The incident underscores urgent calls for reform and accountability within the justice system and society at large. Both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s reactions highlight the need for a systemic overhaul to protect vulnerable individuals and ensure that such heinous acts do not go unpunished. As the nation grapples with this deeply troubling case, it is clear that significant change is needed to address the ongoing issues of gender violence and institutional failure.
