Raebareli- In a show of solidarity with the victims of the horrific mob lynching in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai visited the family of the slain Dalit youth Hariom Valmiki on Monday. The visit comes amid growing outrage over the brutal murder of 38-year-old Hariom, who was beaten to death on October 2 by villagers mistaking him for a thief amid rampant rumors of thefts and drone sightings in the Unchahar area.

Rai, accompanied by party workers, reached the family's modest home in Tarawati Ka Purwa village, Fatehpur district, where Hariom's wife and elderly father Gangadin reside. Deeply moved by the family's anguish, Rai consoled the bereaved relatives, offering heartfelt condolences and assuring them of the Congress party's unwavering support. "The Congress will raise its voice against this heinous injustice and fight relentlessly at every level to ensure justice for the victim’s family," Rai stated during the meeting.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress unit, through its official handle highlighted the visit as a testament to the party's commitment to standing with the oppressed. The incident, they emphasized, is a stark example of the rising injustice, insecurity, and fear faced by Dalits and marginalized communities under the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government. "The Yogi government's insensitivity and crumbling law and order are evident in this merciless killing," the party post read.

Congress's Strong Demands for Justice and Reforms

The Congress party has escalated its call for accountability, outlining three key demands in the wake of the tragedy:

1. Exemplary Punishment for the Accused: The culprits must receive such stringent punishment that it serves as a deterrent for future offenses. Currently, five individuals, Vaibhav Singh, Vipin Maurya alias Anuj Maurya, Vijay Kumar, Sahdev, and Suresh Kumar, have been arrested and remanded in judicial custody, but the party insists on swift and severe action against all involved.

2. Comprehensive Support for the Family: Immediate provision of Rs 1 crore in compensation to the family, a government job for one member, and adequate security to protect them from further threats.

3. Systemic Reforms by the Government: The Yogi administration must crack down on atrocities against the Dalit community and implement concrete measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, including curbing rumor-mongering that fuels mob violence.

Rai, in a separate post on X, lambasted the BJP regime, calling the lynching a "frightening picture of jungle raj" in Uttar Pradesh. He reiterated that Dalit safety is left to divine intervention under BJP rule, with neither fear of the law nor guarantee of justice. "Now, there will be a decisive fight against injustice in UP," he vowed, vowing to amplify the issue in legislative and public forums.

This visit by Rai, a prominent Congress leader and former Varanasi candidate, signals the party's strategy to consolidate Dalit and backward caste support ahead of upcoming elections. It echoes similar outreach by Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad, who had demanded Rs 50 lakh compensation and a job earlier in the week. The dual pressure from opposition parties is mounting on the state government, which has already suspended the local SHO and three policemen for negligence.

The #JusticeForHariomValmiki campaign continues to trend on social media, with netizens and activists decrying the systemic failures exposed by the case. As investigations proceed under IPC Section 304A and potential SC/ST Act charges, the Congress's intervention adds fuel to demands for a thorough probe and policy overhaul.