The All India Democratic Women’s Association, National Federation of Indian Women, All India Progressive Women’s Association, Pragatisheel Mahila Sangathan, All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan and All India Agragami Mahila Samiti, have issued the following statement on October 21.

ALL organisations and activists working to preserve our right to life, livelihood, democratic rights and a violence free life are extremely concerned at the way the inquiry in the Hathras rape and murder of the dalit girl is being compromised. The UP state government under CM Yogi Adityanath seems to be working overtime to protect the upper caste culprits who belong to the same Thakur caste as the CM. The Thakur community is being allowed to organise their caste panchayats and openly threaten the girl’s family who now fear for their safety. The investigating agency is brazenly denying that rape was committed. Cases are filed against the people who have supported the family.

The website of the CBI had earlier displayed the FIR registered by its Noida branch which included Sections 376, 302 etc. This has been removed from this website. Now it states that the CBI will conduct its investigation on the basis of an earlier FIR lodged at the Hathras police station which does not include charges of gangrape and murder. This is a clear attempt to dilute the investigation even before it has started.

Attacks against dalits and women go on with impunity with the goons and rapists being given political patronage by the Modi-Yogi regime.

We appeal to all citizens to come forward and raise our voice in unison to condemn this brazen attacks on the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women. This violence has increased under the BJP-RSS regime. We condemn the Manuwadi code that is being implemented in Uttar Pradesh. Let us all unitedly fight to protect the secular, democratic traditions of our country and the fundamental rights guaranteed by our constitution.

Let us all unitedly protest all over the country on October 29, 2020 – one month after the death of the Hathras victim.

DEMANDS
• CM Yogi must resign
• DM Hathras must be removed
• Institute Court monitored scientific, time-bound impartial investigation.
• The rape and murder case should be investigated under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
• Invoke the Prevention of Atrocities Act against the accused as well as against the police and administrative officers responsible for burning the victim's body to destroy evidence.