Priyanka Gandhi Vadra protected Congressional workers during lathi-charge
New Delhi:
Congressional Leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra played the role of protector on Saturday afternoon during a brief clash between Congressional workers and Uttar Pradesh police at the toll plaza at the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyover. , where she and her brother had been detained while on their way to Hathras to visit the family of the Dalit woman who was gang-raped and murdered last month.
In the pictures of the confusion at the Delhi-UP border, Ms Gandhi Vadra, wearing a dark blue kurta and face mask, can be seen jumping a small yellow barricade and running to protect a man in a white kurta like policemen with lathis raised. surround her and a horde of reporters cover the ruckus.
As the video plays, Ms. Gandhi Vadra resolutely stands between the man, who appeared to be injured, and the police, helping him to sit on the side of the road and stand beside him.
Ms. Gandhi Vadra and her brother, Rahul Gandhi, were at the DND toll plaza today to make a second attempt to travel to Hathras and meet the family of the 20-year-old woman who was gang-raped and died this week in a Delhi Hospital for injuries sustained in that savage assault.
Her body was then cremated by the police in a secret ceremony at 2.30am, allegedly without giving her family members one last chance to cry for her.
The first attempt by congressional leaders on Thursday ended in a fight with police officers who refused to let Gandhi pass, citing orders banning large gatherings amid coronavirus concerns, and pushing him to the ground in the chaos that followed. .
This time, however, facing severe criticism for its handling of the Hathras tragedy and physical confrontation with Mr. Gandhi (as well as similar treatment given to Trinamool Congress deputy Derek O’Brien), the Yogi Adityanath government he backed off, allowing the Gandhi and two senior congressional leaders to continue.
The government had previously insisted that large gatherings, such as those of the congressional delegation, were not allowed according to Covid’s management guidelines. These orders prohibit people from traveling in groups of more than five.
The ruling BJP, which is under pressure for its apparent inability to prevent horrific crimes against women (at least two more assaults and rapes by the state have since been reported) had dismissed the congressional protests as a “political stunt.”
This morning, the Union Minister, Smriti Irani, attacked Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of organizing a visit to Hathras for political gain.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, whose resignation has been demanded by activists and the opposition, made a statement of his government’s commitment on Friday. “Those who even think of harming mothers and daughters in UP, their destruction is assured,” she tweeted in Hindi.
Angry protests against the police and government have taken place across the country, including one in the national capital Delhi on Friday where Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared and demanded that the four defendants be executed. .
The Allahabad High Court has taken up the case and has summoned senior government and police officials to appear before it on 12 October.
.
