Targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party after the release of retired IPS officer SR Darapuri and Congress leader Sadaf Jafar on Tuesday, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that a lie had no legs.
Ten persons, including Darapuri and Jafar, who were arrested and sent to jail following anti-CAA protests in Lucknow, were granted bail by a Lucknow court on Saturday. Their release was postponed to Tuesday for completion of formalities.
After their release, Priyanka tweeted: “Ambedkarite thinker and former IPS Mr Darapuri and Congress leader Sadaf Jafar were released from jail today. Upon being asked for evidence, UP Police could not prove anything.”
She further wrote: “The BJP government has shown its true thinking by arresting innocents and those who carry forward Baba Saheb’s legacy.”
Earlier on December 28, Priyanka had visited Darapuri’s family at their Indira Nagar residence in Lucknow. She was stopped by the police after which the Congress leader alleged that she was roughed up by cops. Later, she went to Polytechnic crossing on a scooty and walked to Darapuri’s residence.
On Saturday, a Lucknow court given the order of releasing 10 people, including Darapuri and Jafar, on bail on Saturday. The accused were asked to furnish two bail bonds worth Rs 50,000 each and personal bonds of equal amount.
Meawhile, after her release, Sadaf thanked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for getting her thrashed by police and putting her behind the bars.
“All my fears of getting beaten up and going to jail have ended and now I will have the courage to counter this illegal law of CAA/NRC more forcefully. Today, I vow to continue my protest against the legislation till it is withdrawn,” Sadaf told mediapersons after stepping out of Lucknow jail.
A social activist, Sadaf accused the police of high-handedness during the arrest and said: “I was slapped by many and called Pakistani because of my religion. At night, I was told that a senior police officer wanted to meet me. I hoped that at least on humanitarian grounds and constitutional rights, my family would be informed of my whereabouts but when I went to meet him, I was abused.”
Speaking about her meeting with the police officer, Sadaf said that women cops assaulted and clawed her face.
“The officer asked the women cops to slap me but was not satisfied with the action. So, he pulled my hair and kicked me in my stomach and knees. They were wearing no badges to keep their identities under wraps,” she alleged.
Commenting on his arrest, Darapuri said the case against him was fake and the police had no evidence.
“I have worked as an officer in UP Police for 32 years and my task was to maintain law and order and not to instigate violence. I had no role in the violence in Lucknow on December 19, yet I was framed. On the day of violence, I was under house arrest and none of my social media posts could foment violence. I had appealed to people to protest peacefully and not indulge in violence. The violence was sponsored and jointly instigated by the RSS and BJP along with police,” the former IPS officer alleged.