Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Protects Congressional Employees During DND Overflight Lathi Charge
New Delhi:
Congresswoman Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took on the role of protector on Saturday afternoon during a brief clash between congressional workers and Uttar Pradesh cops at the toll plaza on the Delhi-Noida Direct flyover ( MDN), where she and her brother were temporarily arrested on their way to Hathras to visit the family of the Dalit woman who was raped and killed last month.
In the visuals of the chaos at the Delhi-UP border, Ms Gandhi Vadra – in a dark blue kurta and wearing a face mask – can be seen jumping a small yellow barricade and rushing to protect a man in a white kurta as the cops with lathis surround him and a horde of journalists cover the heckling.
As the video unfolds, Mrs Gandhi Vadra stands resolutely between the man, who appeared to be injured, and the police, despite considerable pushing and pushing, helping him sit by the side of the road and stand by his side.
Ms Gandhi Vadra and her brother Rahul Gandhi were at the MDN toll booth 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 from injuries sustained during this savage assault.
Her body was then cremated by police in a secret ceremony at 2:30 a.m., without giving her family members a last chance to mourn for her.
Congress leaders’ first attempt on Thursday ended in a scuffle with cops 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.
Rahul Gandhi was pushed to the ground as cops prevented him from reaching Hathras on Thursday
This time, however, faced with harsh criticism over its handling of the tragedy and the physical confrontation with Mr. Gandhi, Yogi Adityanath’s government backed down, allowing the Gandhi and two top congressional leaders to continue.
It was hours after two senior UP officials first met the family – the first visit by senior officials since the September 14 assault.
The government had previously insisted that large gatherings – such as those of the congressional delegation – were not allowed under Covid management guidelines. These ordinances prohibit people from traveling in groups of more than five people.
The ruling BJP, which comes under pressure over its apparent inability to prevent horrific crimes against women – at least two other assaults and rapes have been reported by the state since then – had previously dismissed congressional protests as a “political coup”. This morning, Union Minister Smriti Irani attacked Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of organizing a visit to Hathras for political purposes.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, whose resignation has been requested by activists and the opposition, made a statement of his government’s commitment on Friday. “Those who even think of harming the mothers and daughters of the UP, their destruction is assured,” he tweeted in Hindi.
Furious protests against the police and the government were staged across the country, including one in Delhi on Friday, where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made an appearance and demanded that the four defendants, who all belong to the so-called “upper caste”, to be executed.
The Allahabad High Court took note of the case and summoned senior government and police officials to appear before it on October 12.
