A video of a tribal girl getting thrashed by men in front of her father for eloping with a man has gone viral on social media. The incident is said to have happened on May 21 at a remote village in Chhota Udepur district of Gujarat.
Quoting the Deputy Superintendent of Police AV Katkad, News18 reported that three men, who can be seen beating the girl in the video, were angry with the girl as she eloped with a man to Madhya Pradesh recently, which they thought brought disrespect to the community.
The three accused have been identified as Desingh Rathva, Bhipla Dhanuk and Udelia Dhanuk. 16 other people have been charged with rioting, criminal intimidation, assault and other provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. An FIR has been lodged at the Rangpur police station upon the complaint from the 16-year old victim’s father.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi tweeted the video saying that the violence “is sustained by a culture that glorifies symbols of womanhood while simultaneously treating women with total contempt & disrespect.”
The violence in this video is not isolated. It’s an expression of what many Indian women have always faced. The violence comes in many forms & is sustained by a culture that glorifies symbols of womanhood while simultaneously treating women with total contempt & disrespect. pic.twitter.com/5KXrJvGPDj
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 30, 2020
Many have asked ‘what is the culture that is being blamed here?’ since the girl hails from a tribal community.
Whoever tweets on behalf of Rahul Gandhi these days, doesn't criticise rival parties as much he/she criticises the prevalent "culture"
Exactly which culture is being blamed here?
And which culture will they blame on murder of Laali Pandey or gangrape of dalit girl in Kaushambi? https://t.co/3fj8JUXhqY— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) May 30, 2020
Dear @RahulGandhi , did you ask Congress MLA of the area Mohansingh Rathwa to resign for nurturing this culture.
What culture are you exactly vilifying. I only recall how your sister was glorified by your party as Durga. Why should rest of us take blame for sins of your party? https://t.co/gZaEspE2ql pic.twitter.com/jxLhTGyoYD— Sanjeev Newar संजीव नेवर (@SanjeevSanskrit) May 30, 2020
However, the comment has come across as a sly dig at Hindus and Hindu culture.