Priyanka Gandhi Vadra leads Congress peace march on Gandhi Jayanti

A day after it was prevented from taking out a march in support of law student who has accused former Union minister Swami Chinmayanand of rape, Congress on Tuesday anunced that party workers led by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will undertake a 'padyatra' on Gandhi Jayanti in Luckw, Uttar Pradesh. Congress said that it has called off state-wide protests against Uttar Pradesh government planned for Tuesday against arrest of its leaders and workers. Dubbing foot march on Wednesday as a show of strength, leaders in Uttar Pradesh unit of Congress said that massive preparations are underway to make it a big success. "Congress workers will take out a 'padyatra'' from Shaheed Smarak to GPO park in state capital to mark 150th birth anniversary of Far of Nation Mahatma Gandhi," Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu said.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra takes part in 'padyatra'

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will also take part in ' padyatra', Ajay Kumar Lallu said, adding that party workers and leaders from all over state will join march. party had earlier given a call for organising state-wide protests on Tuesday after district administration of Shahjahanpur invoked prohibitory orders and foiled its attempt to take out 'nyay yatra', a 180-km 'march for justice' from Shahjahanpur to state capital Luckw. But protests were called off late Monday night and a 'padyatra' was planned to coincide with Gandhi Jayanti, Lallu said. "It would be a sort of show of strength by party after arrests and house arrests of its senior leaders by state government and leaders and workers from all over state will take part in it," sources said.

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80 Congress leaders arrested

About 80 Congress workers were arrested on Monday at a public meeting ahead of planned march in Shahjahanpur in support of law student. Former union minister Jitin Prasada was stopped from leaving his Shahjahanpur home for march and placed under house arrest while borders of district were blocked from all sides. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised arrests and lashed out at ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). " BJP government of UP is standing with one committing atrocities on daughters and is taking protesting Congressmen into custody," Rahul Gandhi had tweeted.

Priyanka alleged that criminals in Uttar Pradesh have protection of government so that y can intimidate a rape victim. " UP BJP government wants to suppress voice seeking justice for daughter of Shahjahanpur. padyatra is being stopped. Our workers and leaders are being arrested. What is re to be afraid of?" Congress general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh said in a tweet in Hindi. Priyanka Gandhi has been repeatedly targeting Yogi Adityanath government over law and order and or issues.

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'UP is Kashmir'

Congress leader Jitin Prasada also hit out at BJP. "UP is Kashmir yet today I am in preventive custody for simply wanting to highlight plight of Shahjahanpur rape victim. This BJP govt has qualms in quashing an individual's fundamental rights," he had tweeted. Priyanka Gandhi was appointed general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh ahead of parliamentary polls and had campaigned vigorously, but of 80 Lok Sabha seats in state, Congress could man to win only Raebareli. Even Rahul Gandhi lost to Union minister Smriti Irani from his family stronghold of Amethi. Party sources, however, maintain that her aim is to strengn organisation and prepare it for success in 2022 Assembly polls in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh.

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