New Delhi, 13 July (H.S.): A Congress delegation led by the party's Delhi in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam was stopped by the police on Monday while on its way to meet the family of Lalita Gautam in connection with the Meerut murder case. The delegation, comprising Members of Parliament, legislators, and party office-bearers, was halted at the Kashi Toll Plaza by the police and district administration. The confrontation led to a prolonged standoff and heated exchanges with officials, following which the delegation was compelled to return to Delhi.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Rajendra Pal Gautam alleged that the BJP government was discriminating against opposition parties by allowing only organisations aligned with it to meet the victim's family. He accused the police administration of acting in a partisan manner and claimed that the Congress delegation had been stopped because the government was afraid of the party. He further alleged that atrocities against Dalits were increasing in the state and accused the police of behaving like goons.

The Congress leader demanded that a criminal case be registered against the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Meerut and that action be taken in accordance with the Constitution. He alleged that an advocate taken into custody had been assaulted by the police. Gautam also announced that the Congress would raise the issue in Parliament and stage a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 27.

He further accused the government of preventing opposition parties from meeting the families of victims. He demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for the victim's family, government jobs for family members, and a speedy trial of the case through a fast-track court.

The delegation included Members of Parliament Imran Masood, Tanuj Punia, and K.L. Sharma; Rajya Sabha member Karmveer Bauddh; MLA Virendra Chaudhary; Delhi Congress SC Department president Sanjay Neeraj; and several other party office-bearers.

Police officials, however, prevented the delegation from proceeding further, stating that no member of the victim's family was present in the village and that the visit could potentially lead to a deterioration in the law and order situation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar