—Pratima Gadal, B1Daily

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has intensified its criticism of the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, accusing it of failing to protect Dalit girls from escalating violence and sexual crimes.

The sharp rebuke follows the brutal murder and alleged rape of a Dalit teenager in Ghazipur, which has sparked outrage across the state.

Incident Ignites Political Firestorm

The victim, a 16-year-old girl, was found dead in a field last week, with preliminary reports suggesting sexual assault before her killing. Local Dalit organizations and opposition parties have condemned the incident as yet another example of systemic failures in safeguarding marginalized communities under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s administration.

SP president Akhilesh Yadav seized the opportunity to lambast the BJP, stating,“The BJP talks about ‘Beti Bachao,’ but under their rule, Dalit daughters are neither safe nor getting justice.” He highlighted a surge in atrocities against Scheduled Caste communities, citing NCRB data that places UP among the worst-performing states in crimes against Dalits.

BJP’s Counterclaims and Public Anger

While BJP leaders dismissed the accusations as politically motivated, claiming swift arrests had been made, activists allege a pattern of delayed investigations and weak prosecution in caste-based crimes. The Congress party also joined the fray, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeting, “Silence on Dalit oppression exposes the hollowness of BJP’s social justice rhetoric.”

The Ghazipur case has reignited debates over law and order in UP, particularly ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Analysts suggest that the SP’s aggressive stance could galvanize Dalit and OBC voters, who remain pivotal in the state’s electoral arithmetic. Meanwhile, protests continue in Ghazipur, with demonstrators demanding capital punishment for the accused and compensation for the victim’s family.

As political tensions escalate, the spotlight remains on whether the BJP government can address these allegations or if opposition parties will succeed in framing the issue as a symbol of governance failure.

—Pratima Gadal, B1Daily