Sitapur Police on Tuesday officially arrested the Congress General Secretary, 24 hours after he was kept at the local guest house. Priyanka Gandhi and at least 10 others, to “prevent the commission of cognizable offences”.
Priyanka was stopped on the way Lakhimpur Kheri, where eight people died After a car owned by Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni allegedly ran over the protesting farmers, a clash broke out.
Apart from Priyanka Gandhi, those arrested include Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda, UP Congress state president Ajay Kumar Lallu and party MLC Deepak Singh. The arrest has been made under section 151 of CrPC (arrest to prevent commission of cognizable offences).
“A total of 11 people have been arrested by us. Priyanka ji was stopped on the way at around 4.30 am on Monday. Lakhimpur Kheri. We told him that you should not go there because the situation is not good and section 144 CrPC is applicable. He did not listen to us and in proper security presence, we had to take him to a local guest house,” said Hargaon station house officer (SHO) Brijesh Kumar Tripathi, adding that further action will be decided by senior officials.
Earlier in the day, Priyanka released a video statement addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Lucknow, and asked if she had seen a video of the Lakhimpur incident. He then played the video, which shows what appears to be a Mahindra Thar coming from behind and running over a group of protesters walking on the road.
“In this video your minister’s son is shown cutting farmers under his vehicle. Watch this video and tell the nation why this minister has not been suspended and why the boy has not been arrested yet. You have arrested opposition leaders like me without any FIR and I want to know why this person is free.
“Today when you will be sitting on the stage of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Utsav’, please remember that farmers have given us freedom. Even today our borders are protected by farmers’ sons. Farmers are desperate for months and are raising their voice, But you are in denial. I request you to come to Lakhimpur and understand their pain. It is your religion to provide them security, and the religion of the Constitution you have taken oath.”
Earlier, in a tweet, Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda said that he has been arrested for the last 36 hours while those who run away with the farmers are roaming freely. “The farmers who cut the farmers are free and we are in police custody for 36 hours. There is mourning in the farmer families but the festival is being celebrated in Lucknow. I want to ask people whether this country will support those who run or fight for those who have fled,” he tweeted.
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