Priyanka flays govt, says it’s shielding rape accused

LUCKNOW : Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday undertook a three-kilometre long padyatra and blamed the Uttar Pradesh government for protecting rape accused and committing atrocities on women and victims.

Covering the distance in nearly 50 minutes Priyanka said, “The manner in which the state government is saving Chinmayanand while the victim is facing atrocities is a matter of concern and we will fight against it. Girls are facing atrocities and when they raise their voice they face more trouble.”

She added, “Uttar Pradesh has a new trend where criminals enjoy freedom and the voice of the victim is suppressed. I met the family of the Unnao victim and came to know how her sister and mother were locked in the house. Criminals, particularly BJP leaders, take protection from the government.”

She further said, “The BJP should first pursue the path of truth and then talk about Mahatma Gandhi.”

With a surging crowd behind her, she almost lost balance on the stairs twice while the security personnel, mainly her Special Protection Group (SPG) guards, had a tough time managing the padyatra which began from the Shaheed Smarak.

“The crowd was more than expected as the common man, who believes in Gandhi and his ideology, also joined us on Gandhi Jayanti,” said Aradhna Mishra, deputy leader of the Congress legislature party.

Wearing a saree, flanked by senior party leaders, she walked swiftly, surrounded by security, from Shaheed Smarak to the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Hazratganj.

On the way, many youngsters took pictures and tried to click a selfie as the Congress general secretary walked past them.

“I have never seen a leader of her stature taking out a yatra,” said Shaifali, 19, a student.

As the padytatra reached the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Hazratganj, more Congressmen joined in. Along the way, a long queue of vehicles kept waiting while drivers anxiously watched the leader.

Many of them clicked pictures from across the road.

Former Union minister Jitin Prasad, who was put under house arrest in Shahjahanpur on Monday to stop him from taking out a ‘yatra’ in support of the law student in the Chinmayanand case, and others took part in the march too.

› UP has a new trend where criminals enjoy freedom and the voice of the victim is suppressed. I met the family of the Unnao victim and came to know how her sister and mother were locked in the house. Criminals, particularly BJP leaders take protection from the government PRIYANKA GANDHI, Congress general secretary