Won't return without meeting kin of victims: Priyanka

Congress eastern Uttar Pradesh general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said that she would not return without meeting the kin of those who were killed in Sonbhadra. She also added that it is the duty of a leader to meet the victims and she doesn't need an AC or electricity to stay at the guest house.

Mirzapur (UP):Congress' eastern Uttar Pradesh general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Friday said that she would not return without meeting the kin of those who were killed in Sonbhadra on July 17.

"I won't go without meeting the kin of victims. Half an hour ago, DM and SP of Mirzapur came and told me to go to Varanasi as there is no AC here. I told them I won't go anywhere. I don't need any AC or electricity," she said while talking to ETV Bharat here.

The guest house where she has been put was facing power outage. Terming firing in Sonbhadra as painful, she said: "Land is everything for a tribal. It is his life. Not only their land but 10 people have been killed. Six people are in the hospital.

I have already said that a 17-year old child who has been hit by a bullet is in hospital. A massacre has taken place there. This is clear. I have come here to meet those families. It is not a crime.

It is the duty of a leader to meet the victims."The Congress leader also demanded land ownership right and Rs 25 lakh compensation for kin of each victim. "They (kin of victims) should get the ownership rights, Rs 25 lakh compensation and a lawyer to fight their case," she said."I came here this morning.

I said it in the morning as well that if Section 144 is there in force at Sonbhadra, I won't violate it. I will go with you (administration officials). Two people will come. Please take me to them (kin of victims).

I just want to meet them anyway. Even then, they brought me here. I have been kept here for the last seven hours. First, they did not tell me why this was done," she added.

Reacting to the allegations that the incident is due to the works of the Congress party, Priyanka said: "Whose government is this? BJP, Yogi's government or Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru's government? This is the responsibility of the Chief Minister."You are seeing it. Murders are taking place.

This is the Chief Minister's responsibility. Till the time, he doesn't realize that change won't happen. And till the time change won't happen, we will continue with our struggle," she said.

In reply to a question that the administration should have made arrangements for her stay at the guest house, she said: "There is no need to make arrangements for me.

I am fine. Only if they could have made these arrangements in that village -- villagers complained even a day before the incident took place.

Even when the incident was taking place, then to they did not come.

"Reacting to the claims of the government about robust law and order situation in the state, Priyanka said: "They should come out of their homes. They should see and read the news. Which world they are living in?

"Meanwhile, the Congress party workers, who were there with her in Chunnar, alleged that the district administration was doing this to force her to leave the place.