The Post-Hathras Conundrum: Striving for a National Dalit-Bahujan Agenda While the social group of Dalits is active in furthering the cause of justice, the political class needs to play a more active role. Protests after the Hathras gang-rape and murder. Photo: PTI/Files Caste14/Dec/2020 The Hathras gang-rape and murder was an alarm bell for the Dalit movement. The terrible incident showed that Brahmanical forces have been criminally emboldened under Yogi Adityanathâs Hindutva regime. Peopleâs protests were widespread, challenging the lethargic response of the state government. A large section of civil society activists participated in the mobilisation to seek justice for the victim. However, the victimâs family was harassed and threatened, the protests were mocked or called as conspiracy, and a PR team was appointed by the state government to notify the press that the teenager was not raped.