Rahul Gandhi was reportedly pushed by the police on his way to Hathras.
New Delhi:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was pushed and fell to the ground in a scuffle with Uttar Pradesh police after he, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and dozens of party workers were prevented from walking on the highway Delhi-Noida en route to Hathras to meet the family of the gang rape victim who died on Tuesday.
The Gandhi were detained for violating a ban on large gatherings. “I stand here peacefully. I will go alone then. I will walk alone from here to Hathras,” Rahul Gandhi told police.
Footage showed the congressman being pushed and pushed around as he tried to resist police. During the clash, the 50-year-old was seen falling to the ground. Other congressional leaders helped him.
Priyanka Gandhi alleged that she was also pushed and that there were attempts to throw her to the ground.
“Why are you arresting me? What are the grounds for the arrest? What law am I breaking,” Rahul Gandhi said during a heated exchange with police officers, who said they accused of “section 188”, a law on disobeying official orders. .
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were on their way to Hathras in a convoy when their vehicles were stopped in Noida near Delhi, about 142 km from their destination.
They both got out of their cars and started walking with the members of Congress. Soon, a large contingent of UP police blocked their path and attempted to push them back.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said: “The Gandhi are preparing to march on their own. What is Ajay Singh Bisht, aka Yogi Adityanath (Chief Minister) afraid of?”
Ahead of the planned visit by congressional leaders, the UP administration this morning imposed a ban on large gatherings and erected border barricades citing the coronavirus. The roads to Hathras were also blocked.
