On Friday, 17 October, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi arrived in Raebareli to meet the family of Hariom Valmiki, a man who was tragically beaten to death earlier this month by some miscreants who suspected him of theft.

Before Rahul Gandhi’s arrival, the family of Hariom Valmiki released a video on social media. In that video, they appealed to political parties not to exploit the tragedy for political gain. They said they did not want the death of Hariom to be politicised as a tool to defame the Yogi Adityanath government.

In this video, Shivam Valmiki, the younger brother of Hariom, spoke plainly: “I am Hariom’s brother. Since he died, we have received all possible help, financial, and legal, from the state government. Two cabinet ministers visited our house and ensured all possible help. A job has also been granted to a family member. We are satisfied with the investigation is progressing, and the way the Yogi government has taken action against culprits. We are satisfied by the government’s work. We request the politicians of other parties to refrain from politicising this tragedy.”

His words were firm and clear. He acknowledged that the government had stepped in to help — financially, legally, and administratively — and that two cabinet ministers had visited their home to assure them of full assistance. He also mentioned that a job had been allotted to a family member, and expressed satisfaction with how the inquiry was unfolding. Ultimately, he urged external political actors to stay out of the matter.

Despite this public plea, Rahul Gandhi proceeded with his visit to the family. After meeting them, he repeated a familiar line: he portrayed the murder as if it were a case of caste-based violence, asserting: “Atrocities against Dalits are increasing in the country. The government is silent on this. They are restricting Hariom’s family members from meeting people. Criminals are roaming free and the government is taking no action.” With this claim, he sought to frame Hariom’s death through the lens of systemic caste persecution, positioning himself and his party as defenders of Dalits.

However, this narrative sharply conflicts with key findings and statements made by the local authorities. Raebareli Police have publicly clarified that they believe Hariom’s murder was not motivated by caste. They describe it as a tragic case of mistaken identity, triggered by the false suspicion of theft. The police highlighted that those arrested in connection with the crime come from multiple communities, including Dalits and backward classes, which they argue clearly undermines any claim of a caste-based motive. Multiple suspects have already been arrested, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Reports also confirm that in the wake of Hariom’s death, his sister has been employed as a staff nurse, and his brother has secured a position in the social welfare department, as part of the relief and support measures extended to the family.

Even in the face of official statements rejecting the caste narrative — including the fact that several accused individuals belong to Dalit communities — the Congress party machinery has continued to push the caste atrocity angle, repeatedly invoking Hariom’s case. This sustained effort to frame the incident through a caste lens runs contrary to the public pleas of the Valmiki family and appears to disregard the police findings altogether.