Asha Singh is the mother of the Unnao rape victim in June 2017. She made headlines in January 2022 when Indian National Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra nominated her as one of her candidates for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections.
family
Asha Singh’s husband Surendra Singh, also known as Pappu, died on April 9, 2019, after being beaten in police custody.
Asha Singh’s family had a friendly relationship with Sengar’s family before she called her daughter to her home, offered her a job and raped her, while her husband was a close political aide to Sengar. She has a son and four daughters. Although Asha Singh was illiterate, she educated all her daughters and one of them even studied for a master’s degree.
first media appearance
In April 2018, Asha Singh was charged with murdering Kuldeep Singh Sengar, his brother Atul and others for their involvement in the murder of her husband Surender Surendra Singh alias Pappu attracted media attention following complaints from Surendra Singh alias Pappu and others who raped her daughter.
Daughter was raped
On June 4, 2017, the 17-year-old daughter of Asha Singh, who was a minor at the time, was raped by former BJP MP Kuldeep Singh Sengar in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. Singh Sengar, his brother Jaideep Atul Singh and others. After she was kidnapped in the village of Manchi.
Police are reluctant to lodge an FIR
On June 21, 2017, 17 days after the gang rape, her daughter was found in a village called Auraiya, 116.8 kilometers away from her village. The next day, on June 22, 2017, the family alleged that when they tried to name Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the FIR, the police resisted and even chased them away. Got out.
Her daughter was sold for Rs. 60000
According to the victim’s statement recorded before a judicial magistrate on June 22, 2017, Shubham Singh, Awdhesh Tiwari, Brijesh Yadav and other unidentified assailants were responsible for the kidnapping and gang-rape. A second FIR was later filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) and the accused was detained. As she said in her statement, she was even sold for Rs. 60,000 to a man in Olea.
An open letter to CM Yogi Adityanath
In an open letter written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on August 17, 2017, the victim narrated in detail her experience of being gang-raped. Although police recorded her statement, she was not allowed to identify her attacker.
died in her husband’s custody
Asha Singh’s husband Surendra Singh alias Pappu was allegedly arrested on April 3, 2018 at the behest of Sengar and 10 others for allegedly Beaten by police over false case of illegal weapons. Surendra Singh later died on April 9, 2018, while undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Her daughter tried to set herself on fire
Asha Singh’s rape victim daughter tried to set herself on fire outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s official residence in Lucknow on April 8, 2018, alleging police failure to act .
FIR against BJP MLA, CBI probe
Following widespread outrage, an FIR was registered against BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar and the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which later transferred the matter to the Allahabad High Court . On April 13, 2018, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned the attorney general and the Allahabad High Court ordered his arrest.
joint protest
In April 2018, joint protests were held across the country in response to the Unnao and Kathua rape cases. Even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement condemning these incidents.
A letter to CJI Ranjan Gogoi
In a letter written to CJI Ranjan Gogoi on July 17, 2019, Asha Singh and her daughter said Sengar and his men were putting their lives in danger.
Road accident or attempted murder?
On July 28, 2019, a high-speed truck with a black license plate crashed into a car carrying the victim, her lawyer, and two aunts; the accident resulted in the death of her two aunts, and the victim and her lawyer was seriously injured.
Supreme Court intervention
Taking into account a letter written by the victim and her family to the CJI on August 1, 2019, the Supreme Court transferred the rape-related case to Delhi, directing the trial court to complete the hearing within 45 days.
trial and conviction
The daily proceedings of Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court began on August 5, 2019. The victim was flown from King George’s Medical College in Lucknow to AIIMS Trauma Center in New Delhi. After the victim was discharged from AIIMS in New Delhi on September 25, 2019, the trial court ordered the Delhi Commission for Women to shift her and her family members to a rented accommodation in Delhi on December 6, 2019. Former BJP MP Kuldeep Sengar was convicted on the 16th. In December 2019, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on December 20, 2019, and fined Rs. 2.5 million.
MLA tickets from Unnao
On January 13, 2022, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee in charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs, announced the list of 125 candidates for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. Asha Singh is among the 50 female candidates. list. Priyanka Gandhi said while releasing the list,
This list sends a new signal: If you’ve faced injustice, you have the power to fight it. Congress will support you and support you. “
Asha Singh while thanking Proyanka Gandhi for giving her the opportunity to contest the assembly elections said,
She gave me and the women of this state a level of respect that no other political party has ever had. “
In an interview, when asked about the reason for contesting the assembly elections, Asha Singh said that without political power, it would not be possible for her to fight against the majority party. she says,
I know that if we are not careful, my daughter, myself and other family members will be killed. Sengar, his family and the BJP remain active against us. I need the political power to continue fighting the monsters, even though many of them are in prison. That is why I asked the Congress Secretary-General to give me this ticket. “
Asha Singh returned to her hometown after nearly four years when she started campaigning in her hometown Unnao in January 2022. During the campaign, she vowed to eliminate the ruling BJP government from the state. she says,
Months later, the BJP removed Sengar amid media pressure. But the Supreme Court accepted the case based on media reports and ultimately justice was served. But socio-political justice still awaits – Sengar may be in jail, but the BJP remains in power in Uttar Pradesh and the country. I will ask voters how they can support a party that supports rapists and murderers. “
Asha Singh’s rape survivor daughter also helped her mother in her campaign. In an interview with a newspaper, her daughter also promised to fight against the BJP in the elections. she says,
I am a rape survivor. I can tell you that the BJP is very harmful to women. The entire country should keep this in mind when voting. We will soon rent a house and election office in Unnao City and start the official campaign. “
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education