Rahul Gandhi, Cong leaders call UP govt ‘goonda raj’ for Ghaziabad journalist death

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government as ‘goonda raj’ (rule by hooligans), hours after Ghaziabad-based journalist Vikram Joshi succumbed to bullet injury he received from a group of men, who had allegedly harassed the scribe’s niece.

“Journalist Vikram Jashi was killed after he protested against the harassment against his niece. My condolence to the family. They promised Ram Raj, but gave Goondaraj,” Gandhi tweeted.

अपनी भांजी के साथ छेड़छाड़ का विरोध करने पर पत्रकार विक्रम जोशी की हत्या कर दी गयी। शोकग्रस्त परिवार को मेरी सांत्वना।

वादा था राम राज का, दे दिया गुंडाराज।

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 22, 2020

“Is it the same Ram Rajya that BJP promised after it came to power? This is complete ‘Goondaraj’. Neither journalist, nor those who protect the law are safe in UP, so how can the common man expect justice,” tweeted his party colleague Randeep Surjewala.

Expressing his shock over the incident, party leader and lawyer Abhishek Singhvi said, “Shocking jungle raj in #Ghaziabad area with journalist #Joshi, already known as the complainant in #FIR, being shot on a scooter while with his daughters, struggling in a coma with a bullet in the skull! Thank God daughters not hit. Shocking, scary, disgusting lack of fear of law & order! #UP.”

Shocking jungle raaj in #Ghaziabad area with journalist #Joshi, already known as complainant in #FIR, being shot on scooter while with his daughters, struggling in coma with bullet in skull! Thank God daughters not hit. Shocking, scary, disgusting lack of fear of law & order! #UP

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) July 22, 2020

Ajay Kumar Lallu, Congress president in the state added, “The Ghaziabad incident has shocked the entire state. It’s a tragic incident. Nobody is safe in Uttar Pradesh. If it is not jungle raj then what is. The government remains silent while criminals are becoming more active. While leaving home in the morning, people in the state worry whether they will be able to return in the evening or not.”

ग़ाज़ियाबाद के पत्रकार साथी का क्या गुनाह था? क्या अपने परिवार की सुरक्षा के लिए न्याय की गुहार लगाना गुनाह है?

मुख्यमंत्री जी ! यह प्रदेश आपसे नहीं संभल रहा। इस्तीफा दीजिए और गोरखपुर लौट जाईये। गोरखपुर आपका इंतज़ार कर रहा है। pic.twitter.com/bVUFk1UxXG

— Ajay Kumar Lallu (@AjayLalluINC) July 22, 2020

In the meantime, the Station in-charge has been suspended and a departmental inquiry has been ordered after the journalist’s family accused the police of inaction. A total of nine accused have been taken into the custody, while efforts are on to nab another accused.

#Ghaziabad : पत्रकार विक्रम जोशी की अस्पताल में इलाज के दौरान मौत, बदमाशों ने मारी थी गोली#VikaramJoshi

Read-https://t.co/qgfd2nIfQS pic.twitter.com/mDWc5uMd31

— Newsroom Post (@NewsroomPostCom) July 22, 2020