Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the state government over the death of a businessman in Gorakhpur, allegedly after he was beaten up by policemen.

She claimed that Uttar Pradesh was in complete grip of 'Jungle Raj’.

Priyanka tweeted on Wednesday, "A businessman in Gorakhpur was beaten to death by the police. This incident has spread fear among the common people of the entire state. In this government, it is the state of jungle raj that the police are soft on criminals and behave barbarously with the common people.”

Priyanka Vadra said that the government was making many big claims regarding law and order in the state but crimes were taking place openly and this exposed all these claims.

The Congress leader also called on the victim’s wife, Meenakshi, and extended all help from the party in seeking justice.

Congress spokesman Pankaj Tewari also condemned the incident and said that the party wanted a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) so that the culprits were punished. He also asked for Rs 1 crore compensation as the family had lost its lone bread earner.

It is worth noting that late on Monday night, Manish Gupta (36), a Kanpur-based businessman, died after he was allegedly thrashed by the police during interrogation at a hotel in Ramgarhtal area of Gorakhpur district. A case of murder has been registered against six policemen accused in this case. All of them have also been suspended.

Meanwhile, in her ongoing bid to fix a strategy for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the Congress general secretary on Wednesday had one-on-one meetings with her party leaders and workers. However, like Tuesday when she did not visit UPCC headquarters, on Wednesday she also went for a brief period to interact with non-Congressmen.

In UPCC, she met doctors and health workers and thanked them for their services during the coronavirus pandemic. Priyanka Vadra said doctors and health workers served people round-the-clock during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Several young doctors also remained connected with UP Congress' helpline Hello Doctor,” disclosed the Congress spokesman, adding Priyanka Vadra discussed several health issues of the people.

The Congress leader also appealed to young doctors to give their suggestions on issues relating to health services in the state, he said.

Later during the day, Priyanka Vadra held meetings with party secretaries and other leaders at the Kaul House where she is staying, he added.

Meanwhile, Priyanka Vadra reportedly changed her plan of kicking off the election campaign from Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh which was planned to convey her party’s solidarity with the agitating farmers. Instead, to attract the people both in Uttar Pradesh and the entire country, she has now decided to hold her first election rally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency Varanasi on October 9.

Priyanka Vadra wants to directly take on Modi over the failure of the Bharatiya Janata Party government both at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh.  Former Varanasi MP Rajesh Mishra confirmed that preparations for Priyanka Vadra’s rally have begun and added that the event was being organised to give a message of change to the people across the state.

This is Priyanka Gandhi's second visit to Uttar Pradesh this month, the first one being between September 8 and 13. Sources said that she will remain here on Thursday also and will leave for New Delhi on Friday.