Priyanka Gandhi was detained and stopped from going to Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
Congress workers and leaders across the country voiced their protests on Saturday against the detention of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra when she was going to meet families of the Sonbhadra clash victims.
#WATCH Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: Prasashan ko inki (family of victims of Sonbhadra firing case) rakhwali karni chaiye. Jab inke sath hadsa ho raha tha, madad karni chaiye thi. Prasashan ki mansikta meri samaj se bahar hai. Aap unn par thoda dabaw banaiye, aap mere piche pade hain. pic.twitter.com/BIW8ZYnzRF
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 20, 2019
Priyanka Gandhi was detained and stopped from going to Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. She was headed to the place regarding the incident where ten people were gunned down and 28 injured in the clash between supporters of Ubbah village headman Yagya Dutt and Gond tribals over a piece of land in Sonbhadra district's Ghorawal area on Wednesday.
1. Priyanka Gandhi detained, Congress protests 'illegal' arrest
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Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was on Friday stopped from going to Sonbhadra where 10 people were gunned down this week and taken to a guesthouse after she squatted on the road with her supporters, insisting that she be allowed to proceed.
The Sonbhadra shootout acquired a sharp political edge with Congress leaders, including former party president Rahul Gandhi, alleging she had been "illegally" arrested and the Uttar Pradesh government was attempting to crush democracy while local police officials said she was detained in Narainpur in the state's Mirzapur district.
Gandhi spent the night at the Chunar guesthouse in Mirzapur district, turning down all requests of the local administration to return without meeting the Sonbhadra clash victims. The Congress general secretary also shared a video of aggrieved Sonbhadra families who were seen mourning the death of their near ones.
क्या इन आँसुओं को पोंछना अपराध है? pic.twitter.com/HdPAEkGJGj
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 20, 2019
The Congress leader has vowed not to return without meeting the families of those killed in the July 17 incident.
2. Trinamool Congress delegation stopped at Varanasi Airport
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Three members of the Trinamool Congress delegation which was going to Sonbhadra to meet the families of 10 people who were killed in firing were also detained at the Varanasi Airport.
"Trinamool Parliamentary delegation detained at Varanasi airport. ADM, SP have not told us under which section. (“Doing as told from topmost”). We have told them that we will cooperate, wish to meet injured &then proceed to Sonbhadra to meet and give confidence to grieving families," Derek O'Brien who was part of the TMC's parliamentary delegation said.
The party's official Twitter handle posted photos from the airport.
Visuals of Trinamool delegation at Varanasi airport. Restrained without any reason. From 9.45 this morning they are sitting on dharna just off the tarmac. Delegation have not been allowed to visit hospital or proceed to #SonbhadraMassacre pic.twitter.com/W50jfo5Bnz
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 20, 2019
The TMC had announced in New Delhi on Friday that it planned to send a delegation to Sonbhadra on Saturday.
The three members of the delegation which included TMC MPs Abir Ranjan Biswas and Sunil Mondal were stopped at Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport in Varanasi as soon as they landed there on their way to Sonbhadra.
3. UP CM Yogi Adityanath promises strict measures
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With mounting political pressure, Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath promised strict action regarding the incident and said, “At least 29 criminals are arrested till now, a single barrel gun, 3 double-barrel guns, and a rifle seized."
Giving out details about the incident, the Chief Minister said, "The foundation of this incident was laid in 1955 when the then tehsildar did the unlawful act of registering the land of gram samaj in the name of Adarsh Cooperative Society."
"The government has ordered the suspension of four officials. A three-member committee has been constituted to investigate the matter from 1955 till now and give a report to the government in 10 days," he added.
4. Violence over one piece of land
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Ten people were killed and 28 injured in the clash between supporters of village head Yagya Dutt and Gond tribals over a piece of land in Sonbhadra's Ghorawal area on Wednesday. Dutt's supporters allegedly opened fire on the tribals.
Police said that the Sapahi village head Yagya Dutt and his supporters allegedly opened fire on the victims following a quarrel over a long-pending land dispute.
The injured were rushed to the Banaras Hindu Hospital for immediate medical treatment.
The land earlier belonged to an IAS officer and he had sold it to Yagya Dutt, who wanted to take possession, Uttar Pradesh DGP O P Singh had earlier told PTI.
The police also said they had initiated proceedings some time back for attachment of that piece of land.
5. Congress will provide Rs 10 lakh compensation for kin of the deceased
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Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday also said that she was waiting to see what measures the administration picks up in this regard. She added that the Congress party will give a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the person who died in the incident.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra,Congress:My objective has been served as I have met them (victim of Sonbhadra firing).I am still under detention, let's see what the administration says. Congress party will give a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the person who died in the incident. pic.twitter.com/4SUaPEVmsz
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 20, 2019
Meanwhile, UP Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma said regarding the incident, "Sec144 is imposed there, if you go to fulfill your political intentions, then it's not right. No one should do politics on sensitive issues. Our govt is committed to maintaining peace."
Ankit Aggarwal, DM Sonbhadra, also said that the situation in the village is 'sensitive'. "We have imposed Section 144 in the district. This prevents the entry of political parties as well as social organisations," he said, "I would like to request everyone to cooperate to maintain peace in the area."
