New Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the BJP-led governments in Assam and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, accusing them of police excesses that allegedly led to the deaths of two Congress workers during protests.
Rahul Gandhi called the incidents a “murder of democracy and the Constitution” and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
“Democracy and Constitution have been murdered again in BJP-ruled Assam and Uttar Pradesh,” he said in a post on X.
The Congress leader referred to the deaths of Mridul Islam in Guwahati and Prabhat Pandey in Lucknow as tragic and condemned the alleged police actions.
“The lions of Congress will continue to fight for truth and the Constitution,” he added, emphasising the party’s commitment to its ongoing satyagraha for protecting the Constitution.
Priyanka Gandhi described the deaths as “extremely heart-rending” and accused the BJP of “crushing the Constitution on the streets.”
She alleged that police brutality in Uttar Pradesh led to the death of Pandey, a Youth Congress worker from Gorakhpur, and that excessive force, including tear gas, caused Islam’s death in Assam.
“The BJP is attacking Baba Saheb [Ambedkar] in Parliament and crushing his Constitution on the streets,” Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on X.
The Congress claimed that 45-year-old Advocate Mridul Islam, a member of its Legal Cell, died due to tear gas exposure during a protest in Guwahati.
The protest addressed issues such as the unrest in Manipur and alleged corruption involving the Adani Group.
Assam Congress spokesperson Bedabrat Bora said Islam felt suffocated after a tear gas shell fell near him.
He was rushed to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital but was declared dead.
However, a senior police officer stated that the cause of death would only be confirmed after a post-mortem and denied any injuries among protesters.
Assam Congress leaders Bhupen Kumar Borah and Ripun Bora were also detained during the protest but were later released.
In Lucknow, 28-year-old Prabhat Pandey, a Youth Congress worker, died during a protest near the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
State Congress chief Ajay Rai claimed Pandey’s death was caused by police brutality.
According to police, Pandey was brought to the Civil Hospital in Hazratganj in an unconscious state and was declared dead.
“Prima facie, there were no visible injury marks on his body,” said DCP Raveena Tyagi, adding that a post-mortem examination would be conducted by a panel and videographed for further investigation.
Rai alleged that Pandey’s death highlighted the oppressive tactics of the state government.
The incidents have sparked outrage within the Congress, with demands for justice for the deceased and their families.
