UP govt deny permission to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit Lakhimpur Kheri

The Congress had sought permission from the state government to meet the family members of those farmers who were killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence on Sunday.

Earlier, party sources confirmed that Gandhi would lead a five-member delegation to Kheri on Wednesday. He was scheduled to arrive in Lucknow at noon and later proceed to Kheri to meet the farmer's family.

Sources here said that UP Government on late Tuesday night has refused permission to Congress delegation led by Mr Gandhi to visit Lakhimpur Kheri area in the wake of Section 144 that has been imposed following October 3 violence.

Meanwhile, Lucknow Police imposes restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC till November 8 to maintain law and order and ensure adherence to COVID rules in view of upcoming festivals, various entrance exams and farmers' protests.

Rahul Gandhi is slated to address a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday morning.

Gandhi was also slated to meet his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has been arrested and kept at Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka Gandhi, in a statement, said was "verbally" informed about her arrest by DCP Piyush Kumar Singh, CO City, Sitapur, under section 151 at 4.30 am on Oct 4.

She said section 144 was not imposed in Sitapur when she reached there, adding that she was traveling in a single vehicle with four other persons, two local congress workers, Deepender Hooda, and Sandeep Singh.

She added she was driven to the PAC compound, Sitapur accompanied by two female and two male constables.

"Having been brought to the PAC compound, no further communication regarding the circumstances or the reasons, or the sections under which I have been charged have been communicated to me by the UP Police or administration until now- 38 hours later at 6.30 pm on the 5th of October," she said.