Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai was arrested on Saturday while attempting to visit the family of the Dalit youth allegedly lynched in Raebareli district.
Rai, who was accompanied by Congress MP Rakesh Rathore and former minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui, was stopped by police and taken into custody just after they left the party state headquarter here on Saturday afternoon.
The police intercepted the Congress convoy outside the party’s headquarters, which had turned into a high-security zone amid heavy deployment of forces and barricading. Rai, determined to meet the grieving family, said earlier, “Even if they open fire, we will go and stand with the family of the deceased Dalit youth.”
Party workers gathered in large numbers around the Congress office and raised slogans against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government, accusing it of shielding those responsible and suppressing opposition voices.
“This government hates Dalits,” Rai said. “They have not only killed a Dalit boy but are also preventing us from offering help to his family. The BJP is openly attacking the Constitution and promoting atrocities against marginalized communities.”
He alleged that the youth, identified as Hariom Valmiki, was murdered because of his caste and his political opinion. “He was killed because he took Rahul Gandhi’s name. The attackers reportedly said they were ‘Baba’s people’. This is a jungle raj under Yogi Adityanath. They kill people and boast about it,” said the Congress leader.
The Congress leadership had earlier announced financial support and legal aid to the victim’s family. Rai had visited Fatehpur five days ago and vowed to return with more concrete support.
Despite police restrictions and arrests, Rai stated, “We will not be stopped. Congress will continue its struggle for justice. We stand firmly with the victim’s family, and those responsible will not go unpunished.”