Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained as they were heading to Hathras in UP to meet the family of the gangrape victim who died on Tuesday. There was also a clash between Congress workers and the UP police, leading to lathi charge. The arrested leaders were later released and taken by the policemen back to Delhi. Rahul Gandhi alleged that he was pushed to the ground and lathi-charged. The atrocious behaviour of the UP police was caught on TV as several media outlets reported the incident.
Even the leader of the Samajwadi Party was not allowed to enter Hathras by the administration. The UP government is behaving in a very arrogant and rude manner. This not the way democracy functions. The opposition leaders have every right to visit any part of the country, provided they do not break the law. The move to curtail the right of opposition leaders to protest and visit places smacks of dictatorship. Under the leadership of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre, there is growing attempt to curtail the right to dissent. Opposition voices are being muzzled by the ruling government. Also, report is coming that the local administration is putting pressure on the parents of the victim to give a statement which suits the narrative of the UP government. This kind of pressure tactic is disrespectful to the victim’s family and her soul too.