Lakhimpur Incident | 'BJP Doing Politics To Crush Farmers': Priyanka Gandhi Allegedly Arrested By UP Police

Youth Congress National President Srinivas BV claimed about the arrest through a series of videos on his Twitter account

Priyanka_lakhimpur

New Delhi: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been allegedly arrested from Hargaon when she was on the way to meet the victims of the violence that erupted during a farmers' protest that claimed eight lives. Youth Congress National President Srinivas BV claimed about the arrest through a series of videos on his Twitter account on Monday saying, "Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrested from Hargaon" .

Targeting the Yogi-led Uttar Pradesh government, Srinivias said, "Arrest of a leader with Z + security category without any warrant, treatment of a Member of Parliament like a hooligan, what is going on in the country and UP?"

The party released several videos and in one of them, she can be heard saying she was stopped several times on her way to Lakhimpur.  Priyanka Gandhi can be seen saying, "I am not more important than the people you have crushed under the car. The government you are defending. You give me a legal warrant, a legal basis or else I will not move from here and you won't touch me."

The leader came out strongly against the cops saying the state may not have any state and order, but the country follows the law.

In a tweet, Priyanka Gandhi lashed out at the Centre saying, "The BJP government is pursuing the politics of crushing the farmers, the politics of eliminating the farmers." 

Lashing out at the cops, she said, "If you will put me in that car I will charge you with kidnapping. And the charge will not be against the police but you."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also came out in support of Priyanka Gandhi, who was visiting the violence-hit Lakhimpur saying, "Priyanka, I know you will not back down - they are scared of your courage. In this non-violent battle of justice, we will continue to fight for the farmers."

Gandhi and other party leaders reached Lakhimpur border early Monday, but alleged they were not allowed to meet the victims of the violence. Gandhi, who is accompanied by party leader Deepender Singh Hooda among others, took alternative routes to reach the bordering Hargaon area in Saitapur as heavy security was deployed on the main roads amid tension in the violence-hit region of Lakhimpur.

We are waiting outside Lakhimpur Kheri. We have been prevented by the police from entering. We have come here to meet the victims of the violence, Congress national secretary Dheeraj Gurjar told PTI over the phone at 4.30 am.

Priyanka Gandhi's convoy was earlier briefly stopped by the Uttar Pradesh Police officials in Lucknow, where the Congress general secretary had arrived on Sunday night, within a few hours of violence being reported during an anti-farm laws protest here.

Meanwhile, mobile internet services were suspended in parts of the violence-hit district, where restrictions under CrPC section 144 -- which prohibits assembly of four or more people -- has also been imposed, according to officials.

The UP police took to Twitter early Monday to describe the incident as unfortunate and said eight casualties have been reported so far as per the district administration. ADG LO, ACS Agriculture, IG Range & Commissioner are on the spot & situation is under control. Adequate deployment has been done to prevent any untoward incident, it added.

Meanwhile heavy barricading outside SP Leader Akhilesh Yadav after he announced visiting Lakhimpur on Monday. A truck has been parked on the middle road outside their house in Lucknow, to prevent him from going out of the premise.

(With inputs from PTI)