The Congress leader said the family was being confined at home and denied medical help after the brutal killing. Drawing parallels with the Haryana Dalit officer’s suicide, Rahul said victims are being treated as criminals.
PC Bureau
NEW DELHI | October 17, 2025: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday met the family of Hariom Valmiki, the 40-year-old Dalit man who was lynched earlier this month in his parliamentary constituency, Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh.
After meeting the family, Rahul Gandhi made a serious allegation, claiming that the state government had threatened the victim’s family to prevent them from meeting him.
“This morning, the government threatened the family against meeting me. It’s not important whether they meet me or not, but these people are not criminals. They have committed no mistake,” Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
He added that the Congress would “stand by every Dalit family facing atrocities” and pledged all possible assistance.
बीते दिनों हरियाणा में एक दलित अधिकारी ने आत्महत्या कर ली थी। मैं वहां गया था और आज मैं यहां हरिओम जी के परिवार से मिलने आया हूं।
हरिओम वाल्मीकि जी के परिवार ने अपराध नहीं किया। बल्कि इस परिवार के खिलाफ अन्याय हुआ है, लेकिन ऐसा दिखाया जा रहा है कि ये अपराधी हैं।
इस परिवार को… pic.twitter.com/ygpFspM62d
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 17, 2025
“Congress and I will try our best to provide all help to the family. Wherever there will be atrocities against Dalits in the country, we will be there and fight for justice,” he said.
Valmiki was allegedly lynched by a group of villagers on October 2, after being mistaken for a thief during a night vigil. The attack reportedly occurred amid rumours that a gang was using drones to mark houses for robberies.
READ: ‘Shameless Liar’: Congress Tears into Himanta for Lying on Rahul’s visit
Gandhi drew parallels between Valmiki’s case and the recent suicide of a Dalit officer in Haryana, suggesting a pattern of injustice.
“A Dalit officer committed suicide a few days ago. I went there, and today I came here. In both cases, a crime has been committed against them, yet they are being treated as if they are the criminals,” he said.
He further alleged that the Valmiki family was being confined to their home and denied medical care.
“They are not being allowed to go out of their house. There is a girl who needs an operation, but she can’t get it done because the government has locked them in,” he claimed.
Calling for accountability, Gandhi urged the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure that those responsible are punished.
“They are being threatened. Their son was murdered on video. The accused should not be protected. Justice must be served,” the Congress leader said.
The Raebareli MP’s visit has reignited the debate on Dalit rights and rising hate crimes in Uttar Pradesh, with the Congress accusing the state administration of shielding the perpetrators and suppressing victims’ voices.
