Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed a press conference in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow on Monday, 30 December.
“The question of my security is not a big question. There is no need to discuss it. Today, we are raising the issue of security of the state's people,” she said, adding that many steps taken by the government and the police have no legal basis and have led to anarchy.
“Saffron denotes Hinduism; it does not reflect violence or revenge,” she said, in an apparent jibe at the Yogi Adityanath government.
Gandhi was allegedly strangled, pushed and manhandled by officials of the UP Police on Saturday, while heading to the residence of retired IPS officer SR Darapuri, who was arrested in connection with the recent protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
After the incident, Priyanka Gandhi’s office lodged a complaint with the Central Reserve Police Force about the alleged breach of protocol by UP Police in Lucknow on Saturday, IANS reported. The move has received heavy criticism from Congress leaders
While she was on her way to Indiranagar (Sector 18), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s vehicle was stopped by the police.
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Video Producer: Aparna Singh
“Four or five of us were in the car and headed this way to meet the family of Darapuri ji. On the way, a police van suddenly stopped our car and told us that we couldn’t go. We asked them why as they didn’t even know where we were going. They told me, ‘We will not let you go’. I got off the car and started walking. They surrounded me and strangled me and pushed me. It was a policewoman. I fell but got up and started walking again.”Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress General Secretary
When she started walking, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that she was stopped again. “They stopped me again and caught me. After that, I rode pillion on one of our party workers’ two-wheeler to come here. But soon after, they surrounded the two-wheeler and I had to walk till here.”
The CRPF, however, has
‘Sadaf Zafar Arrested on Baseless Charges’
Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday said the Adityanath government's handling of protests has "crossed all limits of inhumanity" and party worker Sadaf Zafar was arrested on "baseless" charges.
Zafar, a social activist, was arrested on 19 December while she was live on Facebook from the spot where protests against the amended citizenship law had gone violent. Police had said she was arrested for her involvement in clashes, reports PTI.
Gandhi said Zafar's children were eagerly waiting for her release.
Hitting back at the Congress leader, UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that such 'nautanki' (theatrics) will not fetch votes for the Congress and what's left of the party will also be finished.
UP Police Fines Owner of Two-Wheeler for Not Wearing Helmet
The UP traffic police has slapped a fine of Rs 6,300 on the owner of the two-wheeler on which Priyanka Gandhi Vadra travelled to reach retired IPS officer SR Darapuri's residence in Lucknow, as she and the driver rode the vehicle without helmet, a senior official said Sunday.
Congress leader Dheeraj Gurjar, who drove the two-wheeler, and Priyanka Gandhi covered almost two kilometers in 30 minutes from Polytechnic Crossing to Munshipulia Crossing Saturday evening, the party sources said.
According to the e-challan, the owner of the two-wheeler is Rajdeep Singh, who has to pay the fine, police said.
After meeting Darapuri's family members, the Congress general secretary told reporters, "I was going in a peaceful manner, how was the law-and-order scenario going to deteriorate? I did not tell anyone about this (visit), so that not more than three persons accompany me. They do not have the right to stop me. If they want to arrest me, they should do so."
UP Police Calls Allegations False
Kalanidhi Naithini, SSP Lucknow, said that the morning area in charge, Dr Archana Singh, has presented a report to the Additional Superintendent where she has stated that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's car was not moving along the scheduled route, and had taken a different route.
Moreover, Singh said that the rumours doing the rounds on social media of heckling and strangulating Priyanka are absolutely false.
CRPF Counters Claims, Says Priyanka Did Not Inform of Travel Plans
According to a press release by the Central Reserve Police Force, the only programme indicated on the manifesto on 28 December 2019 was to visit PCC office for attending Congress foundation function for which ASL had been conducted.
The CRPF states that the following security violation had occurred:
- Unscheduled Movement of the protectee without intimation as such ASL could not be conducted.
- During travelling the protectee used non BR civil vehicle without PSO.
- The protectee took a lift in scooty as a pillion rider. Despite this security constraints appropriate security cover was provided by CRPF during the visit. Such security lapses are communicated to the protectee and advised for ensuring proper security arrangements.
Congress Demands Inquiry Into Incident
Addressing a press conference after the incident, on Saturday, Congress’ Sushmita Dev said that Priyanka Gandhi was in Lucknow to attend the Foundation Day of the party, when she felt it was her duty to meet the family of the people who had been arrested for being part of the CAA protests.
Calling it unfortunate that Priyanka was stopped while she was trying to meet former IAS officer SR Darapuri’s family, Dev went on to lash out at the UP Police, saying that they first obstructed her car, in a manner that could have turned into an accident, and put Priyanka’s life in danger.
“When she asked why she was being stopped, as she was going peacefully, they did not let her move physically,” Dev said.
Dev said that the cops physically manhandled Priyanka, and female police officers grabbed her around her neck such that she lost her balance and fell down.
“I want to ask the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ajay Bisht that what does he think he is running in Uttar Pradesh. Is this a democratic government for the people and of the people or is it Ajay Bisht’s gundaraj that is running in UP?” Dev asked, addressing the press.
Dev went on to say that after this, Priyanka got on to a party worker’s motorcycle, but was surrounded by police soon after. She also pointed out that there was not even a violation of the number of people allowed under Section 144.
“I want to ask UP Police that are they running UP as a banana republic, are there any civil liberties? Praying Gandhi, who is a special protectee, who has CRPF security, how can you treat her like that?” Dev lashed out.
She also added that the Congress demanded an inquiry into the matter and said that the CM of Uttar Pradesh should be ashamed of himself. Dev added that Congress demands action against CM Adityanath as well as against the police officers involved, calling for them to be removed.
“We condemn the physical violence on protesters and manhandling of Priyanka Gandhi Ji. This government should be dismissed and there should be President's rule in the state,” Dev further said.
‘Aise Damage Control Nahi Hota’: Shatrughan Sinha
In a series of tweets, actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha reproached the Modi government for allowing the alleged manhandling of Priyanka Gandhi.
“I hope, wish & pray that good sense prevails on our/your people for peace, security, unity especially towards the safety of women,” he wrote, adding, “Your (PM Modi’s) most talked about slogan ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ is contradictory to your teachings & preachings.”
“This is highly condemnable. Despite the misconduct Priyanka went ahead on a two wheeler to meet the concerned person with commitment & dedication. Bravo! Kudos to her. This is for your perusal, action & reaction. Aise, damage control nahin hota Sir,” he wrote.
Robert Vadra, Jignesh Mevani Slam UP Police
“I am extremely disturbed at the way Priyanka was manhandled by women cops. While one held her by throat, the other woman cop pushed her and she fell down,” Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra tweeted.
MLA from Gujarat’s Vadgam constituency, Jignesh Mevani, took to Twitter with a statement calling the police’s actions condemnable.
(With inputs from PTI)
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