Priyanka Gandhi alleges manhandling by UP cops: 'They grabbed me by neck, pushed me, I fell down'

A high-voltage drama unfolded here on Saturday evening as Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged she was manhandled by police personnel who grabbed her by the throat and pushed her when she resisted their attempts to stop her from visiting the residence of retired IPS officer SR Darapuri, arrested in connection with the recent anti-CAA protests.

"They do not have the right to stop me. If they want to arrest me, they should do so," Priyanka told reporters after meeting Darapuri at his Indiranagar's sector 18 residence. She accused the BJP government of acting in a cowardly manner.

The state police denied the allegation as "false", while an angry Congress, at a press conference in Delhi, slammed the police action and demanded imposition of President's Rule in UP.

Narrating the sequence of events, Priyanka told reporters, "As we were on our way, a police vehicle came and the policemen said you cannot go. I asked them 'why'. And was told that we will not be allowed to move ahead,"
"I got off the vehicle and started walking. I was surrounded and a woman cop held me by my throat. Another woman cop pushed me and I fell down. I was forcibly stopped and a woman officer pulled me up by my neck. But I was determined. I am standing with every citizen who has faced police oppression. This is my 'satyagraha'."
UP Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh told PTI, "Priyanka's vehicle was stopped at the Lohia crossing. She protested and asked as to why was she being stopped."
Priyanka told reporters the police action led to traffic snarls. "There is no reason to do so. God knows, ask them why have they stopped (us)."
Attacking the Yogi Adityanath government, she said it was working in a "cowardly manner". "I am the in-charge of eastern UP Congress and the government is not going to decide where will I go in the state."
After meeting Darapuri's family members, she told reporters, "I was going in a peaceful manner, how was the law and order scenario going to get deteriorated? I did not tell anyone about this (visit) so that not more than three persons accompany me. They do not have the right to stop me. If they want to arrest me, they should do so."
To a question on whether the government felt its politics was in danger because of her, she said, "Everybody's politics is in danger."
"Today the country is in trouble. If we do not raise our voices, we will be proved to be cowards."
"But the government wants to suppress them through fear. Whenever such situations arise, the Congress rises to the challenge and accepts them. There is no place for violence and fear in our heart."