Greater Noida: High drama prevailed on Thursday after Uttar Pradesh police personnel pushed former Congress President Rahul Gandhi to the ground near the Yamuna Expressway and detained him along with his sister and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, while they were walking towards Hathras to meet the family of the deceased gangrape victim.
However, they were soon released and sent back to Delhi by the Uttar Pradesh Police. Rahul Gandhi, along with his sister Priyanka and other senior leaders had left Delhi on Thursday to meet the family of the Hathras gangrape victim. However, they began marching towards Hathras after their vehicle was stopped near the Yamuna Expressway.
Later, Rahul Gandhi told the media, “Just now police pushed me, lathi-charged me and threw me to the ground. I want to ask, can only (Narendra) Modiji walk in this country? Can’t a normal person walk? Our vehicle was stopped, so we started walking.”
Rahul said that even if Section 144 had been imposed, he will walk alone towards Hathras to meet the family of the rape victim.
Attacking the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh over the detoriating law and order situation, in a tweet, Rahul Gandhi said, “In times of sorrow, loved ones are not left alone. In the ‘jungle raj’ of Uttar Pradesh, someone’s wish to meet a grieving family also scares the government. Do not be afraid so much, Chief Minister!”
Meanwhile, Ranvijay Singh, Additional DCP, Gautam Budh Nagar, told IANS that Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi have been detained.
Singh further said that Rahul and Priyanka won’t be allowed to proceed further as the police have a letter from DM Hathras saying that if they visit the village, it may disturb the law and order situation in the district. Also, there is the issue of providing security cover to them.
UP police personnel said that Rahul and his sister have been taken into custody as they were marching in an area where section 144 has been imposed.
The police officials said that Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi along with over a dozen people have been detained and brought to the JP Buddha Circuit guest House. They will be served notice under Section 41 for flouting Section 144 and they can be charged under section 188 of Covid-19 Pandemic Act, the police officials said. However, as per Congress leaders the police soon released them and they were being sent back to Delhi in police protection. Before being detained, the Congress leaders had a heated exchange with police personnel and enquired about the grounds on which they were being arrested.
In a tweet, Priyanka said, “They prevented us from going to Hathras. When we all went out on foot with Rahulji, we were repeatedly stopped, they used lathis in a barbaric manner. Many workers have been injured. But our intention is clear. The sticks of an arrogant government cannot stop us. I wish the police would have used the same lathis in defensce of Hathras’ Dalit daughter.” (IANS)
