'Mera Gala Dabaya': Priyanka Gandhi Accuses UP Police Of Strangulating, Manhandling Her In Lucknow

The Congress leader's carcade was stopped twice -- at the 1090 Square and then the polytechnic square. After that she walked around 2 km to the residence of S.R. Darapuri, a retired IPS officer, also arrested over protests.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after coming out of residence of ex IPS officer SR Darapuri in Lucknow. (Image: PTI)

Lucknow: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused the Uttar Pradesh Police of strangulating and manhandling her while she was on her way to meet the family members of former IPS officer SR Darapuri and party members Sadaf Jafar who were arrested during a demonstration against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Lucknow, last week. Speaking to reporters after meeting the family members of SR Darapuri, Priyanka Gandhi said that she was stopped from visiting Darapuri and Jafar by the police. "Unhone mujhe rokne ke liye mera gala dabaya [They (police officials) stopped me by strangulating me." "UP police stopped me while I was going to meet family of Darapuri ji. Police strangulated and manhandled me. They surrounded me while I was going on a party worker's two-wheeler, after which I walked to reach there, she told reporters. WATCH | Priyanka Gandhi Accuses UP Police Of Manhandling Her She was stopped by the police at Lohia Path in the UP capital. But she sped away on a scooter, driven by party Secretary Dheeraj Gurjar. They were later stopped at the Polytechnic Square, form there she walked to Darapuri's residence. It was a dramatic scene at the Lohia Path with state party chief Ajay Kumar Lallu and other Congress leaders, like Jitin Prasada and Acharya Pramod Krishnam, sprinting behind her. Priyanka Gandhi later alleged that she was manhandled by the police and "grabbed by the neck for no reason".

Lucknow: Congress General Secretary for UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra travelled on a two-wheeler after she was stopped by police while she was on her way to meet family members of Former IPS officer SR Darapuri. https://t.co/MTFUCmj63X pic.twitter.com/NJbChyGL1K

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 28, 2019

The Congress leader's carcade was stopped twice -- at the 1090 Square and then the polytechnic square. After that she walked around 2 km to the residence of S.R. Darapuri, a retired IPS officer, also arrested over protests. Earlier Priyanka Gandhi was heard saying, "Why are you stopping us? What's the point of stopping us in the middle of the road." One of her aide was heard saying, "Stopping the car in the middle of road could lead to accident." During the day, she attended the party's 135th Foundation Day celebrations, here, and administered the oath of the Preamble of the Constitution to party workers. She asked the party workers to follow the path of great Congress leaders who made the supreme sacrifice for the country, and also urged them to oppose all those who attacked the Constitution and its values.

#WATCH Lucknow: Congress General Secretary for UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra travelled on a two-wheeler after she was stopped by police while she was on her way to meet family members of Former IPS officer SR Darapuri. pic.twitter.com/aKTo3hccfd

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 28, 2019

"We are the voice of the last man standing on the edge of society. Love, brotherhood and peace are the facets of truth. We take pledge to stick to our ideology of non-violence and kindness. We are the Congress," she said. Earlier this week, the Congress leader had visited Bijnor to meet families of the victims of the anti-CAA clashes. The UP Police had, however, stopped Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi from entering Meerut to meet families of those killed in the violence. According to a police statement, both Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were served with notices that said section 144 of the CrPc has been imposed in Meerut as the situation was tensed over anti-CAA protests and violence. "They were told that they will be held responsible for any deterioration of the law and order situation in the district due to their visit," the statement said.