UP police's behaviour with Rahul like gangrape of India's democracy: Raut

Mumbai: A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was manhandled and stopped by Uttar Pradesh Police, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that Gandhi's collar was caught and he was pushed to the ground, in a way it is a "gangrape" of country's democracy.

"Rahul Gandhi is a national political leader. We may have differences with Congress but nobody can support Police's behaviour with him...His collar was caught and he was pushed to the ground, in a way it is gangrape of the country's democracy," said Raut.

"We should not forget that Rahul Gandhi is Indira Gandhi's grandson and Rajiv Gandhi's son. Both of them have sacrificed for the country. The country will never forgive this behaviour done to Rahul Gandhi. The way in which action is being taken against Rahul Gandhi and others who raise voice is against the democracy of the country," he added.

Rahul Gandhi roughed up by UP police

Rahul, along with Priyanka and other senior leaders had left Delhi on Thursday to meet the family of the Hathras rape victim. However, they began marching towards Hathras after their vehicle was stopped near the Yamuna Expressway.

Later, Rahul along with other leaders detained by the UP police under Section 188 and brought back to the national capital. The Congress leader alleged that he was shoved and pushed to the ground by Uttar Pradesh police, while he was walking along the Expressway.

The visuals of the incident clearly show UP cops pushing both Rahul and Priyanka. After the push, the former Congress chief can be seen falling on the ground.

The Gandhis, who have been critical of the BJP-led UP government for failing to protect the victim, want to express their condolences and show solidarity to the victim's family in Hathras.

The 19-year-old had succumbed to injuries in the Safdarjung Hospital where she was brought on Monday from Aligarh Muslim University Medical College.