Rahul Gandhi, Hathras, Sanjay Raut: differences with Congress but

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said UP police’s treatment of Rahul Gandhi was not acceptable

Mumbai:

Shiv Sena’s deputy, Sanjay Raut, today condemned the mistreatment of Rahul Gandhi by the Uttar Pradesh police, saying that while his party could have “differences” with Congress and he understood that there was a “situation of law and order “in the area, the police treatment of a national leader was unacceptable.

“Rahul Gandhi is a national leader. We may have differences with them (Congress), but a national figure from a leading family will meet someone. After detaining him … I accept Section 144 (prohibition orders prohibiting large meetings) in place and there is a public order situation … but the way the police treated Rahul Gandhi … no one can support him, “Raut told the ANI news agency.

“Rahul Gandhi is the grandson of Indira Gandhi. He is also the son of Rajiv Gandhi. They have both sacrificed their lives for this country. You may not agree with Rahul Gandhi’s policy, but what happened in UP, where a Dalit girl was raped and murdered and a political leader is going to meet the family, it is unacceptable. The way he was detained … you saw him on television … it is unacceptable. They grabbed his neck and pushed him to the ground .. . this is like gang rape of democracy, “added Mr. Raut.

#WATCH Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut says: “Rahul Gandhi is a national political leader. We may have differences with Congress, but no one can support the behavior of the police with him … His collar was caught and he was pushed to the ground, somehow it is gangrape of the democracy of the country “. pic.twitter.com/qhcC8qLiqi

– ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2020

Gandhi, who was marching to UP’s Hathras district yesterday, where the gang rape and murder of a 20-year-old Dalit girl has sparked outrage across the country, was arrested in Greater Noida (near Delhi) and briefly detained.

Dramatic footage showed Mr. Gandhi, who was accompanied by his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, being pushed by police officers and falling to the ground.

“Why am I being arrested? What are the reasons for the arrest? What law am I breaking,” he demanded during the heated exchange with the policemen who said they accused him of “Section 188”, a law that defies official orders.

The incident was condemned by various political leaders, including Sharad Pawar of the PNC. “The reckless behavior of the UP police towards the leader of Congress, Rahul Gandhi, is extremely reprehensible. It is reprehensible that those who are supposed to respect the law trample on democratic values ​​in such a way,” Pawar tweeted.

Reckless behavior of UP police towards @INCIndia Shri leader @RahulGandhi it is extremely reprehensible. It is reprehensible that those who are supposed to respect the law trample on democratic values ​​in this way.

– Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) October 1, 2020

Raut’s Shiv Sena rules Maharashtra in a fragile alliance with the ideologically disparate Congress and the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party). The three formed the government after a dispute between the Seine and the former BJP allies (in power in UP) over the sharing of power.

However, the relationship between the two (Sena and Congress) remains uneasy, with Gandhi’s comments earlier this year attacked by the opposition as a sign of discord in the ruling alliance.

“I would like to make a differentiation here. We are supporting the government in Maharashtra, but we are not the key decision makers … There is a difference between running the government and supporting it,” he said in response to questions about Maharashtra. Covid crisis and possible disagreements to face it.

Last week, Raut met in Mumbai with Devendra Fadnavis, a former chief minister of Maharashtra and a senior BJP leader, in a meeting that he said for the first time that it was “not political” and about which, days later, he asked a sin to argue “politics?”

With contributions from ANI