Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on December 24 accused the BJP of rallying behind expelled party leader and rape convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar, alleging that those in power continue to act with impunity as dissenting voices are being suppressed.
In a post on X, Gogoi claimed that the “entire BJP machinery” was backing Sengar and said the arrogance of those in authority persists because the voice of the republic is being silenced. He alleged that ordinary citizens are being intimidated and said the only option left was to demand justice and resist such actions.
The remarks came amid widespread outrage over the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend Sengar’s jail term in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met the Unnao rape survivor at his mother Sonia Gandhi’s residence at 10, Janpath in Delhi. Gandhi condemned what he described as the continued harassment and mistreatment of the survivor, saying the country was not only heading towards a “dead economy” but also becoming a “dead society”.
The survivor had been protesting in Delhi against the bail granted to Sengar, alleging ongoing intimidation and fear. Reacting to her claims, Gandhi said she deserved dignity and justice, not threats. “Is such treatment of a gang rape survivor justified? Is it her ‘fault’ that she has the courage to raise her voice for justice?” he said in a post on X.
Calling the bail order “deeply disappointing and shameful”, Gandhi said the survivor continues to live under constant fear. He questioned the justice system, saying granting bail to convicted rapists while treating survivors like offenders reflected a disturbing trend. “We are not just becoming a dead economy; such inhuman incidents are pushing us towards becoming a dead society as well,” he added.
Gandhi also stressed that speaking up in a democracy is a fundamental right and that silencing voices amounts to a crime. He said the survivor must be assured safety, dignity and justice.
On Wednesday, the Unnao rape survivor described the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend Sengar’s sentence as “kaal (death)” for her family and said she would approach the Supreme Court challenging the order. She and her mother staged a protest near Mandi House in Delhi.
In its order, the Delhi High Court directed that Sengar should not enter a five-kilometre radius of the survivor’s residence or attempt to threaten her or her mother, warning that any violation would lead to cancellation of bail.
Sengar, however, will remain in jail as he is also serving a 10-year sentence in connection with the custodial death of the survivor’s father, in which he has not been granted bail.
The survivor was a minor when she was kidnapped and raped by Sengar in 2017.