Opposition leaders across the country condemned the arrest of Congressional Leader Rahul Gandhi by Uttar Pradesh police as he was on his way to meet relatives of 19-year-old gangrape victim Hathras.
The congressional leader was walking to his destination along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi after their convoy was stopped on the Yamuna Highway, citing the imposition of Section 144.
The leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Sharad Pawar, criticized the “reckless” behavior of the police, calling the incident “extremely reprehensible”.
“The reckless behavior of the UP police towards the leader of @INCIndia, Shri @RahulGandhi, is extremely reprehensible. It is reprehensible that those who are supposed to respect the law trample on democratic values in this way, ”he tweeted.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chairman MK Stalin said the incident showed the extent of “atrocities and injustices” that citizens face under “ruthless rule.”
“I strongly condemn the rape cases of #Hathras and #Balrampur that show the extent of the atrocities and injustices that citizens face under such ruthless and cruel government. If @RahulGandhi can be abused for looking for #JusticeForIndiasDaughters, what protects the common man from @myogiadityanath? Stalin tweeted.
Congressional leader Shashi Tharoor shared photos of the fight between UP police and Rahul Gandhi on his Twitter account, saying that the presence of the opposition was described as “politicization.” Hours earlier, the Union Minister, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, had urged the opposition not to increase tension through “political tourism”.
“Godi media qualifies the presence of the opposition as politicization: how low will they bow to serve the agenda of their masters? The role of the opposition is to defend the victims of a government that allows anarchy to spread, denies any form of justice to the family and tries to incinerate the truth, ”Tharoor tweeted.
Kerala’s chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, criticized the UP police for preventing Rahul Gandhi from visiting the victim’s family and called the move “undemocratic”.
“Rahul Gandhi has every democratic right to go to Hathras. There is also constitutional freedom. The movement to eliminate everything is ultimately undemocratic. This cannot be allowed in a democratic society. The police assault on Rahul Gandhi is a reprehensible act, ”Vijayan said in an official statement.
The 19-year-old gangrape victim had succumbed to her injuries at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi on Tuesday.
(with contributions from the agency)
.
