Rahul Gandhi slams FIR filing difficulties, questions society’s direction amid Badlapur sexual assault case protests

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the difficulty victims face in filing FIRs through a post on micro social media platform X. Referring to the recent crimes against women in Maharashtra, he questioned the direction in which society is heading.

Writing in Hindi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha highlighted that after the assault on two children in Badlapur, justice only began to take shape when the public protested. He asked why it has become so challenging for victims to even approach the police to register an FIR.



"After West Bengal, UP, Bihar, the shameful crimes against daughters in Maharashtra also force us to think where are we heading as a society? After the crime against two innocent people in Badlapur, the first step to give them justice was not taken until the public came out on the streets demanding justice. Will we now have to protest to even register an FIR? Why has it become so difficult for victims to even go to the police station?," his post read.

"More efforts are made to hide crime than to provide justice, the biggest victims of which are women and people of weaker sections. Not filing an FIR not only discourages the victims but also encourages the criminals," his post further read.

Moreover, Gandhi condemned the authorities for focusing on concealing crimes rather than ensuring justice, noting that women and marginalized communities suffer the most. He warned that not filing FIRs not only deters victims but also emboldens criminals. He called for a serious discussion among governments, citizens, and political parties on measures needed to create a safer environment for women.

The sexual assault case on two schoolchildren in Badlapur sparked severe criticism and protests including a 'Rail Roko' protest at the Badlapur Railway Station. Maharashtra Chief Minster Eknath Shinde called the protests 'motivated'; while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi called for a statewide bandh on August 22.