Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi reached violence-hit Saharanpur on Saturday afternoon defying the local administration and the Uttar Pradesh Police, which had denied him permission to visit the district due to law and order issues. However, he was stopped on the outskirts of Saharanpur by police.
Gandhi, who was accompanied by UP Congress chief Raj Babbar and senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, was there to take stock of the situation and meet Dalit families affected by the ongoing caste-based violence that has claimed the lives of two people and injured dozens over the past 40 days.
"The administration has requested me so I will be going back, but they have said they will take me to villages once the situation improves. The government has failed on law and order in UP. Everybody in country who is not powerful is scared and this is not the way to run a country," Gandhi told media upon reaching the strife-torn district.
Gandhi also spoke to local residents about the prevailing situation in the state following which he got involved in an argument with police questioning them as to on what grounds was he denied permission to enter Saharanpur.
"The national government is spreading fear across the country. Dalits are being oppressed. This is not only in Saharanpur but all over India, Rohit Vemula was oppressed and everyday crores of people are being oppressed," Gandhi said.
UP minister Siddharth Nath Singh had earlier said that the state administration decided to not allow Gandhi to visit the district after BSP chief Mayawati's visit to Saharanpur on May 23 "worsened the situation."
Singh told ANI: "When Mayawati visited Saharanpur, she gave an inflammatory speech which worsened the situation. We have denied permission to Rahul Gandhi."
Saharanpur Clashes:
Clashes first broke out in the district around 40 days ago during a procession taken out to mark the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar.
Later on May 5, a mob of Thakurs attacked a Dalit settlement in Shabbirpur and Simlana villages torching over 54 houses after the latter objected to loud music during a procession taken out by the Thakurs to commemorate Maharana Pratap. One person was killed and around 16 injured in those clashes.
On May 23, shortly after Mayawati's visit to the violence-hit region, fresh clashes broke out claiming the life of a 24-year-old Dalit youth and injuring several others. On May 24, three more people were injured in another round of clashes in the district.
Government Measures:
The Yogi Adityanath-led government in UP suspended the senior superintendent of police and the district magistrate in wake of the violence. Around 174 Sub-Divisional Magistrates, the divisional commissioner and the deputy inspector general of police were also transferred.
The Centre sent 400 anti-riot police personnel to Saharanpur to help restore peace and normalcy in the region. Four companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) are presently stationed in the district. The Centre has also sought a report from the state government on the prevailing violence in Saharanpur. It has sought details of the incident along with measures taken to bring the situation under control and maintain peace in the district.
The state government has imposed CrPC Section 144 (prohibitory orders) in the district and has also suspended internet and instant messaging services to forbid the spreading of rumours that could cause more trouble in the district. It has also announced a compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the clashes.
