Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday made several stops, unscheduled visits in western Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar and Meerut to meet the families of those who died or were injured during last month's violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Priyanka arrived in Muzaffarnagar in the morning and met Maulana Asad Hussaini, who runs madrassa Hoz E Ilmia near Meenakshi Chowk, where violence erupted during the protests on December 20. She also went to the house of Noor Mohammad who lost his life during the protests. She spoke with his seven-month pregnant widow and one-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
She also met Rukaiya, who will be getting married on Saturday, and said the police vandalised her house and damaged things bought for her wedding.
After her meeting with Hussaini and other victims, she said all of them accused the police of unleashing a reign of terror and thrashing them for no fault. She said the police entered the madarsa and beat up the maulana and his students. “I will stand with you in this hour of distress,” Priyanka said. She was accompanied by Imran Masood, a party leader from Saharanpur.
Later she told mediapersons that people were beaten up mercilessly and even children and minors were not spared.
“I met Maulana Asad Hussaini, who was brutally thrashed by the police. Students of the madarsa, including minors, were picked up by the police without any reason. Some of them have been released and some are still in custody,” she said. She said she has given a memorandum to Governor Anandiben Patel incorporating the high-handedness of the police during the protests.
Priyanka then proceeded to Meerut where she met the affected families at the outskirts of the town.
In the neighbouring Meerut, the affected families assembled at one place on the outskirts of the town to meet the Congress leader where she listened to their problems.
The UP Police had stopped Priyanka and her brother and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi from entering Meerut town on December 24, citing prohibitory orders, as a result of which they had to return to Delhi, 60 km from there, without meeting the affected families.
At least five people were killed during the protests in Meerut.
Earlier, Priyanka had gone to Bijnor and met the families of those killed in the violent clashes there.