Hitting out UP CM, Priyanka Gandhi says no place for revenge in country

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday sought a judicial probe into 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.

New Delhi:Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday alleged that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government and the police have taken several steps, which do not have any 'legal' basis and have led to 'anarchy' in the state.

"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 here.

"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.

Gandhi also cited that India's deep-rooted connection with the saffron while cornering Adityanath over his 'revenge' remark.

"Yogi Ji wears 'bhagwa' (saffron). It is not his personal. Saffron belongs to this country's religious and spiritual spirit. It is a symbol of the Hindu religion. He should follow that religion. There is no place for revenge and violence in that religion," Gandhi added.

"The Chief Minister said they will take revenge. The police and the administration follow that. It is for the first time when a chief minister said that revenge will be taken from the people and damages will be recovered," she added.

After protests against the citizenship law turned violent in Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath had said the properties of people will be confiscated who were involved in arson.

"Property of all those involved in this violence will be confiscated and damage done to the public property would be recovered from them. Their faces are captured in videos and CCTV footage. We will confiscate their property and will take its revenge from them," he had said.

Demanding an enquiry into the cases registered against those who were doing 'peaceful' protests, Gandhi said, " Violent, illegal and criminal action by the police and the government should be stopped. There should be an inquiry into the cases registered against those who were doing peaceful protests. The inquiry should be conducted under the supervision of a serving or a retired High Court judge."

"Without any judiciary process, recovery of damage and other action should be stopped. No action should be taken against the students," she said.

Earlier in the day, a Congress delegation met Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and submitted a memorandum demanding an inquiry into the role of the police during clashes with protesters in the agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 across the state.