Priyanka Gandhi visits Bijnor, meets family of youth killed in anti-CAA violence

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday paid an unscheduled visit to the families of the youth allegedly killed in police firing during protests against the new Citizenship Act in Nehtaur town of Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district.

Priyanka Gandhi met and consoled the families of Suleman and Anas who were allegedly killed in police firing on Friday during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Three others were injured in the firing.

She also met the family members of Omraj Saini, who was shot at by the police and is presently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Meerut.

Later, speaking with mediapersons, Priyanka Gandhi said: "People have died in an unprecedented incident which should be probed into. I have come to know that the family members of the victims were harassed by the police when they went to lodge FIRs against the police. Also, the CAA is anti-people, anti-poor. Those who are living here for centuries will now be asked for papers."

She asked as to how would lakhs of daily wage earners living in jhuggis in the cities and landless farmers would be able to produce documents to prove their citizenship. “Nobody has a right to ask for the proof us being Indian,” she said.

The Congress leader said that the country’s GDP is sliding and unemployment is at an all-time high and the Narendra Modi government is bringing divisive laws like CAA to divert attention from these issues.

“Let’s talk about the real issues. Nobody needs this (CAA) law,” she said, adding that although Prime Minister Modi is not used to listening to any dissent but he must listen to what thousands of students are trying to say, as to why they are opposing the citizenship act.

So far, at least 17 persons have died and hundreds have been injured in clashes with the police during anti-CAA protests across Uttar Pradesh. In Meerut alone, six persons have died since Friday.

There have been protests across Uttar Pradesh against the newly enacted Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and at several places these protests turned violent after which the police used force, including firing at the protesters, to contain the mobs. However, DGP O.P. Singh has been insisting that his men did not open fire and if they did, action would be taken against them.

The Congress leader also interacted with the people in the area.

(With inputs from Aas Mohammad Kaif)