In a deeply distressing incident from the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, the body of a Dalit woman has been lying in her courtyard for more than 36 hours. The family claims that the administration has been unable to provide a way to take her body to the cremation ground. This shocking situation has ignited political controversy, with the Congress party launching a fierce attack on the BJP government and the state administration.A Tragic Delay in CremationThe incident occurred in the Meghwals dhani in Rajeshwar village, Jasnath Nagar of Khetasar Gram Panchayat, Osian tehsil. Padu Devi, the wife of Akharam Meghwal, passed away on Friday morning. However, by Saturday evening, her body was still lying in the courtyard as her family struggled to find a way to the cremation ground. According to tradition, the family members and children have not eaten, waiting for the cremation to be completed.36 घंटे से ज्यादा आंगन में पड़ा दलित का शव, श्मशान जाने का रास्ता नहीं दिलवा पा रहा प्रशासन !!कांग्रेस ने भाजपा पर बोला हमला 36 घंटे से अधिक एक दलित महिला की लाश उसके आंगन में पड़ी है. परिजनों का दावा है कि प्रशासन उसकी लाश को श्मशान तक ले जाने का रास्ता उपलब्ध नहीं करवा पा रही… pic.twitter.com/HKYcAwCEHi— MANOJ SHARMA LUCKNOW UP🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@ManojSh28986262) June 29, 2024Court Case Over Road AccessThe familys demand for a specific road to transport the body has been complicated by an ongoing court case. The road in question is subject to a legal dispute, with a subdivision court previously ordering that the road be made accessible upon payment at the DLC rate. Despite agreeing to deposit the required money, the roads accessibility remains contested due to a complaint filed in the Jodhpur District Court.Political Outcry and Administrations ResponseFormer Osian MLA and Congress leader Divya Maderna took to social media to highlight the situation, criticizing the administration for its failure to resolve the issue. Maderna pointed out that this is the third time a Dalit family in Khetasar has faced such a predicament. She described the administrations inaction as inhumane and unacceptable, urging immediate intervention to allow the family to perform the last rites.Congress Leader Divya Madernas StatementIn her social media post, Maderna expressed shock at the administrations lack of empathy and urgency. She revealed that the family has only one demand: to open the public road for the cremation. Maderna contacted the collector and the Osia SDM, who dismissed the familys request, labeling it as blackmail and a potentially bad precedent. Maderna condemned this attitude, emphasizing that the primary responsibility of the administration should be to ensure the deceaseds last rites are performed respectfully.Call for Government AccountabilityThe Rajasthan Congress also criticized the BJP government on social media, describing the situation as a gross failure and highlighting the administrations inhumanity. They called for an immediate resolution to the matter, urging the government to facilitate the cremation and respect the familys needs. Naib Tehsildar Chhatar Singh Rajpurohit and the revenue team have been engaging with the family, attempting to convince them to use alternate routes to the cremation ground. However, the family remains steadfast in their demand for the disputed road. The administration maintains that there are other available routes, but the family insists on their chosen path due to the legal and emotional significance attached to it.
