The high drama in Lucknow began when Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was allegedly restrained and stopped by the police before she was repulsed and she walked on foot to the house of retired IPS officer SR Darapuri, arrested during the Citizenship Amendment Act. Transported. Protests in the city on 20 December.
It all started when Gandhi’s vehicle was stopped by a mob of policemen near Lohia Park crossing in the city. Gandhi argued with the policemen who insisted that they were not allowed to go further.
Defying the police, Priyanka gets down and is seen taking a ride before stopping again at the scooty of the party worker.
Gandhi said that she kept walking till then, but she could not work until she was stopped by a woman policeman who treated her.
“They caught me by the neck. I have come riding on Scooty. I was not being allowed to come in place of SR Darapuri, who was speaking out for non-violent protest. His wife is ill and she was crying. I fell down. I was pushed by a policeman … but I continued, “Priyanka said,” Why is all this happening? ”
Gandhi later allegedly gave a slip to the police, and went to the Indiranagar (Sector-18) residence of SR Darapuri and met family members.
Gandhi was earlier seen arguing with the police as the audience watched. “What is stopping us, that too in the middle of the city? This is not the issue of SPG, but of the Uttar Pradesh Police. There is no point in stopping us. Will you stop (someone) in the middle of a crossing? He asked the police officer.
Gandhi’s visit to Darapuri’s house was not planned. Section 144 is applicable in the vicinity of Lohia Park, where the incident took place on Saturday afternoon.
Gandhi said that he had deliberately kept his journey in wraps so that it would not become a challenge to any law and order.
“I was going in a peaceful way, how was the law and order scenario deteriorating? I did not tell anyone about this (journey) so that no more than three persons are with me. They do not have the right to stop me. If they want to arrest me, they should do so.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh told PTI that Priyanka reached Darapuri’s house after walking about four kilometers and gave a slip not only to the policemen but also to the party workers.
“After walking about a kilometer, she again boarded her vehicle. Subsequently, when the police tried to stop her in the Munshipulia area, she started walking again and then suddenly headed to a bypass in Sector 18, Indiranagar. She walked for about three-four kilometers and gave a slip to the police. Party workers, ”he said.
Earlier during the day, Priyanka attended the party’s 135th Foundation Day celebrations and administered the oath of the promulgation of the constitution to party workers in the city.