'Violence cannot define a civilised society': Congress on Rae Bareli Dalit lynching

Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge said the incident reflects growing insensitivity in society and the administration.

The Congress, on Tuesday, strongly condemned the killing of a Dalit man in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli, terming it a “brutal and cruel murder” and a “grave crime against the Constitution.”

In a joint statement, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the incident reflects growing insensitivity in society and the administration.

“Our country has a Constitution that recognises every individual with a sense of equality. There is a law that grants equal status to the safety, rights, and expression of every citizen. What happened in Rae Bareli is a grave crime against the Constitution of this country. It is a crime against the Dalit community and a stain on this nation and society,” the statement read.

रायबरेली में दलित युवक हरिओम वाल्मीकि की निर्मम और क्रूर हत्या की कांग्रेस पार्टी कड़ी से कड़ी निंदा करती है। हमारा संयुक्त वक्तव्य — हमारे देश में एक संविधान है, जो हर इंसान को समानता के भाव से पहचानता है। एक कानून है, जो हर नागरिक की सुरक्षा, उसके अधिकार और उसकी अभिव्यक्ति… pic.twitter.com/uY6DuLISdN

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 7, 2025

Kharge shared the statement on X, saying the number of crimes against Dalits, minorities, and the poor has “increased beyond limits” and disproportionately affects those who are deprived and marginalised.

"The number of crimes against Dalits, minorities, and the poor in the country has increased beyond limits. This violence disproportionately affects those who are deprived, marginalized, and lack adequate representation or participation," it noted.

“Be it the crimes against women in Hathras and Unnao, the murder of Hariom in Rae Bareli, or earlier, the institutional murder of Rohith Vemula, the inhuman incident of a leader urinating on a tribal youth in Madhya Pradesh, the brutal beating of Dalits in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, or the murders of Pehlu Khan in Haryana and Akhlaq in Uttar Pradesh — every incident is a mirror reflecting the growing insensitivity of our society, administration, and ruling powers,” the statement further noted.

The Congress leaders also targeted the BJP-led government at the Centre, alleging that since 2014, “mob lynching, bulldozer injustice, and mob rule” have become the “terrifying hallmarks” of the times.

“Violence cannot be a hallmark of any civilised society, and what happened to Hariom is a profound question mark on our collective morality,” they said.

The party said such incidents have no place in the India envisioned by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. “The India of Ambedkar’s dreams and Gandhi’s Vaishnav Jan is one of social justice, equality, and compassion, where there is no place for such crimes,” the statement added.

The Congress reaffirmed its commitment to the empowerment of the deprived and weaker sections, calling on citizens to “unite against this injustice” until the “rights and dignity of every Indian’s life are fully protected.”

The party's remarks came after a 38-year-old Dalit man, identified as Hariom Valmiki, was allegedly lynched by villagers in Rae Bareli’s Fatehpur area on suspicion of being a “drone chor.”

As per the police, the mob attack was triggered by rumours that drones were being used to target homes for theft. Assistant Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Sinha said five people have been arrested, and efforts are underway to trace others involved in the incident.

Rahul Gandhi, who represents Rae Bareli in Parliament, spoke to the victim’s family over the phone, while Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai visited their home and assured them of the party’s support.