New Delhi: After two Congress workers died during protests in Uttar Pradesh and Assam, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi accused BJP governments in both states of suppressing democracy and violating the Constitution. Rahul Gandhi expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and assured to continue the fight for justice and constitutional values.
The deaths took place during protests held by Congress workers in Guwahati and Lucknow. The party claimed that police excesses led to the demise of Mridul Islam, a Congress Legal Cell member in Assam, and Prabhat Pandey, a youth Congress worker in Uttar Pradesh.
Congress leaders condemn BJP’s actions
Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, said, “Democracy and Constitution have been murdered again in BJP-ruled Assam and Uttar Pradesh.” He called the deaths of Mridul Islam and Prabhat Pandey “sad and condemnable.” Rahul Gandhi reaffirmed Congress’ commitment to fighting for the truth and the Constitution.
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भाजपा शासित असम और उत्तरप्रदेश में लोकतंत्र और संविधान की फिर से हत्या हुई है।
देश भर में कांग्रेस पार्टी बाबासाहेब और संविधान के समर्थन में सत्याग्रह कर रही है। इस दौरान अत्यधिक पुलिस बल के कारण गुवाहाटी में मृदुल इस्लाम और लखनऊ में प्रभात पांडे, हमारे कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ताओं की… pic.twitter.com/gbqpEJ09s3
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 18, 2024
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticized the BJP, comparing their actions to those of the British Raj. She accused the BJP of crushing Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution both in Parliament and on the streets. Referring to the deaths of the two Congress workers, Priyanka Gandhi described the incidents as “extremely heart-rending.”
उत्तर प्रदेश में व्याप्त कुशासन के खिलाफ विधानसभा घेराव करने जा रहे कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ताओं पर पुलिस की बर्बरता ने हमारे एक कार्यकर्ता की जान ले ली। गोरखपुर के युवा कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ता प्रभात पाण्डेय जी की मौत अत्यंत हृदयविदारक है।
इसी तरह असम में प्रदर्शन कर रहे कांग्रेस… pic.twitter.com/Kgdhsj24ef
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 18, 2024
“The BJP government used lathis and tear gas shells on protesting Congress workers in Assam, causing Mridul Islam’s death. In Uttar Pradesh, police brutality took the life of Prabhat Pandey,” she wrote on X.
While Congress leaders criticized BJP governments in both states, police officers refuted claims of brutality. In Assam, the police have said that the cause of Islam’s death will be clear only after a post-mortem report.
Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, the police said that Pandey’s body bore no visible injuries and that the post-mortem would be conducted by a panel, with the process being videographed to ensure transparency.
Why Congress workers protested in Assam and Uttar Pradesh?
In Assam, Congress workers were protesting against various issues, including the violence in Manipur and alleged corruption charges against Adani Group. During the demonstration, police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. According to Congress spokesperson Bedabrat Bora, 45-year-old Mridul Islam felt suffocated when a tear gas shell fell near him.
Islam was rushed to a private hospital and later transferred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, where he was declared dead. Assam police have denied any injuries during the incident and said that the exact cause of Islam’s death would be determined after the post-mortem examination.
In Uttar Pradesh, Congress workers were attempting to gather at the Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow to protest what they described as “misrule” in the state. During the protest, 28-year-old Prabhat Pandey reportedly died. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai blamed police brutality for Pandey’s death.
However, DCP (Central Lucknow) Raveena Tyagi said Pandey was brought to a hospital in an unconscious state and declared “brought dead” by doctors. She added that there were no visible injuries on Pandey’s body, and the post-mortem would clarify the cause of death.
