UP Police Lodges FIR Against Rahul, Priyanka Over March to Hathras
Rahul claimed that he was lathi-charged and manhandled by the police on the Yamuna Expressway.
advertisement
An FIR has been lodged against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as well as around 200 party workers under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Epidemic Diseases Act, PTI reported on Thursday, 1 October, quoting Gautam Buddh Nagar police.
Detention and Release Enroute Hathras
Earlier in the day, after their detention by Uttar Pradesh Police earlier on Thursday, 1 October, while on their way to meet the kin of the Dalit woman who was allegedly gang-raped and murdered, the Congress leaders were released and sent back to Delhi by the UP Police, IANS reported.
UP Police had detained them near the Yamuna Expressway while they were walking towards Hathras to meet the family of the deceased gang-rape victim.
Ranvijay Singh, Additional DCP Gautam Budh Nagar, had told IANS that the Congress leaders were taken into custody and they won't be allowed to go further. He added that they have a letter from DM Hathras saying that if they visit Hathras, it may “disturb the law and order situation in the district.”
The Gandhis, along with senior Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala were taken to Buddh International Circuit in Gautam Buddh Nagar, after detention.
‘Manhandled, Lathi-Charged,’ Says Rahul
“UP police pushed me, lathi-charged me and threw me to the ground. I want to ask, can only Modiji walk in this country? Can only BJP-RSS people freely walk in this country? Can’t a normal person walk? Our vehicle was stopped, so we started walking,” Rahul told media persons present at the spot.
"I want to walk to Hathras alone. Please tell me under which section are you arresting me,” Gandhi is seen asking in a video shared by Congress Twitter handles.
The UP cops, meanwhile, reportedly said that the Congress leader was arrested under Section 188 of the IPC, for ‘violation of the Epidemic Act.’
‘CM Must Take Responsibility’
“Yogiji needs to take the responsibility for safety of women. The atrocities against women in UP have to stop. The accused need to be given the strictest of punishment. Same time last year, we were fighting for the Unnao rape victim. Nothing has changed since then,” Priyanka told media persons, while walking.
Party sources, cited by news agency IANS, said that permission had been sought from the Uttar Pradesh government prior to the visit.
“We have no information about Priyanka Gandhi’s visit. Special Investigation Team (SIT) will meet the victim’s family members today, media will not be allowed,” he was quoted by ANI as saying.
The car in which the Gandhis were travelling was flanked by anti-UP government protesters earlier, as they reached Noida, via the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) route.
Political Tourism: BJP Slams Rahul, Priyanka
Several BJP leaders slammed the Gandhis for the visit and called it ‘political tourism’.
“The barbaric criminals will definitely be punished for their barbarism. The probe teams are carrying out the investigation. But I think there should not be political tourism on the same.” Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told ANI.
“Those who are trying to increase the tension through political tourism, should not do that. Everyone is saddened and want punishment for the culprits... Uttar Pradesh government is working towards it. You will see the results soon,” he added.
“Why are not they visiting Rajasthan? Will Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka not give answers on what is happening in Rajasthan? They want to play politics over the issue by visiting the district,” Singh added.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)