Priyanka Gandhi alleges Govt snatching livelihood & rights of boatmen community

PRAYAGRAJ, Feb 21 (HS): Congress general secretary incharge for Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi arrived at Bamrauli airport, Prayagraj on Sunday and visited Baswar village in trans-Yamuna area of the district, which was recently in news for alleged police atrocities on Nishad community. Priyanka was seen sitting on the ground and interacting with the villagers and members of Nishad community. She gave a patient hearing to their woes and flayed BJP governments at the Centre and state for misleading Nishad community by creating unwarranted fear of National Green Tribunal to satisfy the vested interest of BJP’s ‘corporate friends’.

“Our party stands with you at all times, successive governments have used boatmen community for the sake of vote bank, I am here to raise your issues, to take up your fight, right from the streets to Parliament and expose the government-capitalist nexus. The erroneous river laws, akin to farm laws that are not in the interest of farmers and have been framed for the benefit of capitalist will be scrapped, once the Congress is back in power. We assure you to uphold all benefits and rights of boatmen. These draconian laws are not intended to protect the rivers but to snatch the rights and restrict the activities of boatmen community. They are for the benefit of capitalists, laws are being framed to exploit you, BJP has nothing to do with the common people,” she said. In an attempt to wipe the tears of alleged police atrocities she said, “I have seen the videos in which police had mercilessly beaten you and damaged your boats. But you need not fear anymore, we will fight tooth and nail against this government, which is hand in gloves and dance to the tunes of their corporate friends,” she opined before leaving for Anand Bhawan and Swaraj Bhawan. She was accompanied by UPCC president, Ajay Kumar Lallu, ex-RS MP, Pramod Tiwari and MLA, Aradhna Mishra.

“She was here to extend support to boatmen who were allegedly harassed by local police. Earlier, she had travelled in Sujit Nishad’s boat after she took a holy dip at the Sangam. Nishad had informed Priyanka about issues that boatmen belonging to the Nishad community were facing, including brutality against them by police whom he alleged had destroyed their boats. The boatman requested her assistance in raising their voices against the oppression to which she agreed,” said UPCC spokesperson Javed Urfi. “The boatman had said that several boats belonging to the Nishad community, were damaged by police and administrative officials. Government banned the use of boats in sand mining across the state on 24 June 2019, which rendered millions of Nishads jobless. So there is anger among the caste. Lakhs of Nishads depend on rivers for their livelihood in UP,” added another party leader Irshad Ullah.