New Delhi, Jul 19 (UNI) Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said she was firm on her decision to meet the families of the victims of Sonebhadra violence and ready to go to jail.
Talking to reporters at the guest house in Uttar Pradesh, where she was detained, while on way to Sonebhadra, Ms Vadra said, 'I have come here to meet the Adivasis, who have suffered in the blood bath that happened in Sonebhadra and share their pain. As a public figure, it is my duty and also my right. I am firm on my decision to meet them.'
Pointing out that she has been kept under detention for the last nine hours and told by the local administration that she would have to pay a bail amount of Rs 50000 or otherwise spend 14 days in jail, Ms Vadra said, 'I have not violated any law nor committed a crime. In fact, I had told the local administration that I am ready to go with them to meet the families, in the manner they want. Despite this, a drama has been created.
'I feel it is immoral to seek bail and will not do it. My clear demand is that I be allowed to meet the families. If the state government wants to put me in Jail for this crime, I am ready to go to jail.'
Earlier, Ms Vadra was taken into custody by the UP police in Varanasi's Narayanpur, neighbouring the Mirzapur border, after she was stopped on her way to Sonbhadra to meet the people affected in the recent violence, which claimed 10 lives and injured several others.
Ms Vadra had gone to Varanasi to visit the people injured in the firing that took place during a property dispute in Sonebhadra. After meeting the injured at the BHU hospital, she left for Sonebhadra, but her convoy was stopped by the police some distance away from Dalhat police station in Varanasi's Narayanpur.
Security forces did not permit her to go further, stating that Section 144 had been imposed in Sonebhadra.
UNI AR RJ 2300