The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of the Yogi government on October 13, 2020 for the manhandling of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by Uttar Pradesh police on October 1.
Responding to a complaint filed by human rights activist Lenin Raghuvanshi on the same day that Gandhi was pushed to the ground while enroute to meet the Hathras victim’s family, the Commission asked the government to take appropriate action in this regard.
According to a National Herald report, the Commission asked the Chief Secretary and the DGP to submit their reply within four weeks failing which the Commission would demand personal appearance of the concerned authority as per the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
The Varanasi-based activist said that anyone can be considered a human rights defender if the person speaks up against oppression by the State or the police.
“I highlighted before the Commission that Rahul Gandhi, as a citizen of this country, has every right to meet anyone, anywhere as and when he wishes. The UP Police by stopping him forcibly and manhandling him violated the basic principle of human rights,” said Raghuvanshi.
UP Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu called the NHRC decision “a tight slap” for the UP government. He said that while the dictatorial attitude of the state government is not new, the police personnel’s misbehaviour with Gandhi was shocking.
“To protect the dignity of people of the state, we will fight the fascist Yogi till the end,” he said.
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