Rahul, Priyanka held on way to Hathras

Rahul, Priyanka held on way to Hathras

Congress leaders, who were going to meet kin of rape victim, released later

02/10/2020

Road block: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being stopped by Uttar Pradesh police personnel in Noida on Thursday.PTI-

Anuj Kumar

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida on Thursday when they, along with hundreds of Congress workers, were going to Hathras to meet the family members of the gang-rape victim.

They were taken to the guest house of the Buddha International Circuit for violating Section 144 and later released on personal bonds.

Mr. Gandhi said he agreed to go alone if his visit violated Section 144. “But still they didn’t allow me and we were pushed around,” he said. When Mr. Gandhi started walking on foot, he was stopped by the Gautam Buddh Nagar police. In the pushing and shoving that ensued, Mr. Gandhi fell down and sustained bruises on his arm.

“Just now the police pushed me, lathi charged me and threw me to the ground. I want to ask if only the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) can walk in this country? Can’t a normal person walk? Can only Modiji [Prime Minister Narendra Modi] walk in this country? Can’t a normal person walk?” Mr. Gandhi said.

After that, he sat down on a dharnaon the Expressway.

Ajay Kumar Lallu, president of the State unit of the party, who continued the sit-in with party workers after the Gandhis were taken away by the police, was also detained.

Reacting to the police action, Ms. Vadra told mediapersons that the government was insensitive and did not follow the rule of law. “The government has to take responsibility for the protection of women. You would remember that last year around this time, we were protesting against the Unnao rape victim,” she said.

She further said, “[The government] portrays itself as the saviour of Hindusim but what kind of religion is this that could not allow a father to perform the last rites of his daughter?”

Love Kumar, Additional Commissioner (Law and Order), Gautam Buddh Nagar, first told The Hindu that the Congress leaders had been detained but later in the day clarified that technically it was an arrest for violating Section 144. “They were released after signing personal bonds. No witnesses were called for bail. So practically, it was detention,” he said.