'No Place For Violence, Revenge In India': Priyanka Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government and police have taken several steps which are not legal and have led to anarchy

UP Govt Took Steps During Anti-CAA Protests Which Caused Anarchy: Priyanka/ Photo: ANI

Lucknow: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday sought a judicial probe into the Uttar Pradesh police's action against people who participated in anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests. She alleged that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government and police have taken several steps which are not legal and have led to anarchy. During the short press conference, Priyanka Gandhi dismissed concerns about her own safety and said India was "no place for enmity, violence and revenge". In a jibe at the UP chief minister days after he had said that those who had damaged public assets would be made to pay, the Congress general secretary said saffron denotes Hinduism, a religion that does not advocate violence or "revenge". “The question of my security is not a big question rather a small one. There is no need to discuss it. Today we are raising the issue of security of the state's people.” she said while speaking to reporters. "We have submitted a letter to the Governor. The letter is a complete documentation of chaos in the state caused by Uttar Pradesh government, administration, and police. They have taken such steps which do not have any legal basis..." Gandhi told reporters. "I went to the house in Bijnor where two students died. One of them was shot outside his home ... In the evening, the police threatened them not to take any legal action ... According to media and official reports, 5,500 people were detained and 1,100 were arrested. Unofficially, the number is higher," she said. The Bharatiya Janata Party quickly hit back at Priyanka Gandhi alleging that the Gandhi family and the Congress party has a culture of politicizing religion. "Not only do we wear saffron, but we practice religion in its entirety. But Priyanka Gandhi Vadraji, how would you understand religion? As there has been a culture of politicizing religion in both your party and family," said Mrityunjay Kumar, Media Advisor to UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Meanwhile, a Congress delegation in Uttar Pradesh, earlier in the day, met Governor Anandiben Patel and demanded a judicial inquiry into alleged police atrocities on anti-CAA protesters. The delegation handed over a memorandum to the Governor signed by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and UP state unit chief Ajay Kumar Lallu. The memorandum said "We demand a full judicial inquiry into the unlawful conduct of the UP Police during the course of public demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the implementation of a nationwide National Register of Citizens and appeal for immediate directions to be issued to the UP Police to act within the framework of the law." It said "following the Chief Minister's shocking and disappointing public declaration that the government will take 'revenge' against the protesters, the administration has failed in its basic responsibility to ensure the rule of law. On the contrary, it appears to have acted in a manner that is biased, unlawful, and violative of the fundamental rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution of India."