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Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Priyanka Gandhi still in detention! Rahul to enter UP with a big Congress contingent

By alagu, 06 October, 2021
Rahul Gandhi, BJP, Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh

Tensions have been escalating in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh as the violence unfolded in the district had sparked nationwide outrage with the ruling BJP regime adding fuel to it by blocking the entry of the opposition leaders into the state. The violence had burst out after some of the farmers were killed while they were protesting over the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday.

The incident had stirred a heat in the state, which is inching closer to the assembly polls, and the violence had killed eight people including farmers and a journalist. The farmer leaders had claimed that Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra was in one of the cars, which had mowed down the protesters who were protesting against Maurya's visit. The violence had triggered massive resentment across the country and the Yogi Adityanath government had fueled it through its clampdown drive of detaining and blocking the entry for the opposition leaders to visit the victims.

On Monday, the Uttar Pradesh police had detained Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders while they were on their way to meet the families of the farmers who were killed in the violence. Priyanka Gandhi's detention had made several Congress leaders march towards Uttar Pradesh and according to reports, Priyanka Gandhi still has been in detention for the third straight day as the BJP regime has been attempting to keep the opposition at bay. 

A party leader has said that Priyanka Gandhi had talked to the family members of the deceased farmers over the phone and she has been in the affirmation that she would visit Lakhimpur Kheri and meet them. Speaking to PTI, Priyanka Gandhi had slammed the Yogi Adityanath regime and said that the Lakhimpur Kheri incident is not an isolated one and said that the state government's reaction to people raising their voice has been consistently that of violence and suppression. Priyanka Gandhi further flayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on why the latter didn't visit Lakhimpur Kheri during his visit to Lucknow. 

She asked why the Prime Minister was not going to Lakhimpur Kheri, which is just a 15-minute ride on a chopper, to wipe the tears of families whose sons were brutally murdered. In a video, the Congress general secretary further asked the Prime Minister why the person behind the killing of four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri has not been arrested yet. She took to Twitter and shared a video in which an SUV can be seen knocking down a group of protesting farmers. 

While she was detained without being charged on Monday, the Uttar Pradesh Police had on Tuesday booked Priyanka Gandhi and ten others for breaching the peace. She has currently been detained in Sitapur, 46 km from Lakhimpur Kheri and several Congress leaders had come together to voice against her detention and demanding the BJP regime to release her. While the Uttar Pradesh government had denied entry to Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to visit Lakhimpur Kheri, another Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of Chhattisgarh had held a dharna at an airport for being denied entry to enter the BJP ruling state. 

Priyanka Gandhi wasn't allowed to meet her legal counsel as tensions grow in Uttar Pradesh. On Tuesday, the Uttar Pradesh government had denied permission to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur. Soon after the denial, Rahul Gandhi had addressed a press conference in Delhi and said that he will be visiting Lucknow on Wednesday. In the albeit of being denied, Rahul Gandhi had affirmed that he will visit Lucknow with two Chief Ministers. While speaking to the media, Rahul Gandhi said, "There is a dictatorship in India now. Since yesterday we are being told we can't go to Uttar Pradesh." 

He further said, "Farmers are being mowed down. The name of the Union Minister and his son is coming up but no action is being taken." He reiterated that he will try to visit Lakhimpur Kheri with two Congress Chief Ministers on Wednesday to meet the families of victims. The reports say that Rahul Gandhi will be entering Uttar Pradesh with a massive contingent of Congress including senior leaders. The two Chief Ministers who are going to accompany Rahul Gandhi are Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. 

Rahul Gandhi will lead a 5-member delegation of the Congress party while visiting Lakhimpur Kheri. However, the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has taken measures to block Rahul Gandhi's arrival in Lucknow on Wednesday. According to ANI, Lucknow Police Commissioner DK Thakur said, "Govt has denied permission to Rahul Gandhi. If he arrives in Lucknow, we'll request him at the airport not to visit Lakhimpur Kheri & Sitapur. SP & DM of Lakhimpur & Sitapur urged us to stop him from coming in wake of the law & order situation." 

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government had also stopped Robert Vadra from going to Sitapur to visit his wife Priyanka Gandhi and to check she is fine. Vadra had expressed his shock that his wife is yet to be allowed to meet her legal counsel. Taking to Facebook, Vadra wrote, "I have been stopped to get to Lucknow, UP, to check on my wife and make sure she is fine and well. I am shocked beyond belief, how Priyanka has been arrested under section 151 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). I spoke with her yesterday & she informed me, that she has not been served with any order or notice. She has not been produced before a judicial officer & has not been allowed to meet her legal counsel." 

"I am really worried for her & I had packed my bag to go to Lucknow now when I was informed that I won't be allowed to step out of the airport. This is totally shocking that as a husband, I can't even go & support my wife. Thankfully, she has a huge support of the masses. But for me, my family & my wife comes first. I really hope & pray that she is released soon & is back home safe", Vadra added. 

 

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