Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi started a foot march after their vehicle was stopped on the way to Hathras on Thursday. As soon as the SUV carrying the Gandhis crossed Delhi border, it was stopped in Greater Noida by the administration. Both Rahul and Priyanka, who were on their way to Hathras to meet the family of the gang rape victim, started walking on the highway along with Congress workers chanting slogans.

Rahul Gandhi was later arrested by the police.”I want to walk to Hathras alone. Please tell me under which section are you arresting me,” Rahul Gandhi said while questioning the cops over their action.

Noida ADCP Ranvijay Singh said that the leaders won’t be allowed to proceed further as they violated the Epidemic Act. “We have stopped them here. The Epidemic Act is being violated. We will not allow them to proceed forward,” news agency ANI quoted Singh, as saying.

Talking to media amid chaotic scenes, Rahul Gandhi alleged that he was pushed and lathicharged by the police.  “I want to ask, can only Modi Ji walk in this country? Can’t a normal person walk? Our vehicle was stopped, so we started walking,” the former Congress president said.

The Hathras administration has imposed Section 144 in the district and banned the entry of media teams in the victim’s village. Local administration claimed that the restrictions were already in place since September and only been extended till October 31 in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Hathras District Magistrate P Lakshkar said that the local administration has no information about Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi’s visit, and added that Section 144 has been imposed in the district.

“Borders of Hathras are sealed. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in the district, more than five people are not allowed to gather. We’ve no information about Priyanka Gandhi’s visit. SIT will meet the victim’s family members today, media will not be allowed,” news agency ANI quoted Hathras DM P Lakshkar, as saying.

The Congress leadership, including president Sonia Gandhi, has been relentless in their attack on the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh over the Hathras gangrape case.

In a scathing attack on the Yogi Adityanath dispensation, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the victim was “killed by a ruthless government”.

“There was an attempt to hush up the matter. The girl was not given timely treatment and a daughter is no more amongst us. I want to say that Hathras’ Nirbhaya has not died, she has been killed — by a ruthless government, by its administration and by the UP government’s ignorance,” Sonia Gandhi said in a video statement.

“A daughter of India is raped-murdered, facts are suppressed and in the end, the right to perform the last rites is also taken away from the victim’s family,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

Demanding Yogi Adityanath’s immediate resignation, Priyanka Gandhi tweeted that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister has no moral right to continue on the post.