Turning the spotlight on migrant safety and rising living costs in the Capital, the Delhi unit of Congress on Tuesday demanded Rs 1 crore compensation, a government job for a family member and a fast-track trial in the murder case of 21-year-old delivery executive Pandav Kumar, alleging the BJP government had failed to support the victim’s family even 15 days after the incident.
Pandav Kumar, a resident of Bihar working as a delivery executive in Delhi, was allegedly shot dead at point-blank range in Southwest Delhi’s Jaffarpur Kalan area on April 26 following a verbal altercation linked to his regional identity. The accused, identified as off-duty Delhi Police head constable Neeraj Balhara, was arrested in the case.
Addressing mediapersons at Rajiv Bhawan, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee Communications Department chairman Anil Bhardwaj, said the incident reflected a worsening law-and-order situation in the national capital and had triggered fear among migrant communities living in Delhi.
“The family has lost its sole breadwinner and is staring at an uncertain future,” Bhardwaj said, while reiterating Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav’s demands for immediate financial compensation, a government job for a family member and legislation on the lines of the Nirbhaya Act to ensure speedy justice.
Warning of protests across Delhi if action was not taken within 15 days, Bhardwaj alleged that the Delhi government’s silence exposed an “anti-Purvanchal mindset”.
The Congress leader also linked the incident to broader concerns over unemployment, inflation and crime in the city, claiming that rising prices of petrol, diesel, CNG, milk and bread had added to public distress, while crimes such as robbery, kidnapping and drug abuse were increasing.
He pointed to recent hikes in milk and fuel prices, including the increase in CNG rates in Delhi to Rs 80.09 per kg, saying inflation had severely affected the household budgets of poor and middle-class families.
Delhi Congress Purvanchal Cell chairman Sudhanshu Kumar said the murder had hurt the sentiments of migrant communities and accused the BJP of promoting divisive politics. He alleged that the government’s failure to announce compensation for the victim’s family reflected an “anti-poor and anti-Purvanchal” approach.
Delhi Congress general secretary P. K. Mishra said the party would continue raising issues related to public safety and justice for the victim’s family.
