- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE government of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday (6) gave permission to Indian National Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to visit Lakhimpur Kheri where eight people died in violence on Sunday (3).
Sources earlier said that a five-member delegation of the Congress led by Rahul was likely to visit Lakhimpur Kheri on Wednesday to meet the kin of those killed in the incident. Rahul boarded a flight for state capital Lucknow from New Delhi along with Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and his Punjab counterpart Charanjit Singh Channi the same day.
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Top source in Lucknow Police had said earlier that the Bharatiya Janata Party government of UP denied permission to Rahul to visit Lakhimpur Kheri in wake of the law-and-order situation there.
However, the UP government’s home department later said that permission was given to Rahul and Priyanka and three other people to visit Lakhimpur Kheri.
Vadra was arrested on Tuesday (5), a day after she was detained after trying to reach Lakhimpur Kheri to meet the families of the victims.
Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrested
Vadra’s husband Robert Vadra on Wednesday claimed that he has been stopped from going to Lucknow to meet his wife. In a Facebook post, he said he was “shocked” at the manner his wife has been arrested.
“I have been stopped to get to Lucknow, UP. to check on my wife and make sure she is fine and well. I am shocked beyond belief, how Priyanka has been arrested under Section 151 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” he said in the post.
Vadra said he spoke with his wife on Tuesday and was told that she has not been served with any order or notice. She has not been produced before a judicial officer and has not been allowed to meet her legal counsel, he said.
“I am really worried for her and I had packed my bag to go to Lucknow now, when I was informed that I won’t be allowed to step out of the airport. This is totally shocking that as a husband I can’t even go and support my wife,” Vadra said.
“Thankfully, she has a huge support of the masses. But for me, my family and my wife comes first. I really hope and pray that she is released soon and is back home safe,” he added.
