Won't go back without meeting victims' families in Sonbhadra: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

In a late night tweet, Priyanka, the Congress general secretary for east UP, said: "I made it clear that I didn't come here to violate any law but to meet the families of the victims. I once again told the government representatives that I won't back without meeting."

Ten people were killed and 24 others injured in the shooting over a 36-acre piece of land.

Yagya Dutt, a village chief, along with his associates had fired upon tribal people who were unwilling to give up their land.

Priyanka, who is presently detained in Mirzapur, was stopped on Friday morning as she was on her way to Sonbhadra.

Priyanka's brother and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said: "The illegal arrest of Priyanka in Sonbhadra, UP, is disturbing. This arbitrary application of power, to prevent her from meeting families of the 10 Adivasi farmers brutally gunned down for refusing to vacate their own land, reveals the BJP Govt’s increasing insecurity in UP." 

Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra tweeted, "The way my wife & Congress leader, Priyanka has been arrested is completely unconstitutional."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who represents the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), slammed the Congress for the Sonbhadra incident. "The shooting is an example of the mafia raj established by the Congress in the state during its days."

This is the first face-off between Priyanka, who was appointed as the general secretary just before the General Elections, and the Yogi government since the Congress' massive defeat in the national polls earlier this year.