No way to run country: Rahul to Centre after being stopped at Saharanpur

Saharanpur: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi who was on his way to the riot-hit Saharanpur on Saturday, was stopped by the Uttar Pradesh police at the border.

However, the latter adamantly reached the clash-affected area to take stock of the situation.

"The administration has requested me so I will be going back, but they have said they will take me to villages once the situation improves," said Rahul Gandhi.

He added, "Govt has failed on law and order in UP. Everybody in the country who is not powerful is scared and this is not the way to run a country."

Rahul, accompanied by senior Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad and Raj Babbar, also discussed the deteriorating situation prevailing in the state with the locals there.

After meeting the locals at the border, Rahul was seen engaged in an altercation with the police force where he questioned them as to on what grounds he was not allowed to enter Saharanpur.

"The national government is spreading fear across the country. Dalits are being oppressed. This is not only in Saharanpur but all over India, Rohit Vemula was oppressed and everyday crores of people are being oppressed," Rahul said speaking to the villagers.

Earlier, the Congress vice-president was on Friday denied permission to visit the clash-affected district where a caste conflict had erupted in which many Dalits were allegedly targeted.

"We have requested all political parties not to visit the state until the situation is brought back to normal in Saharanpur." Additional Director General of Police Law and Order Aditya Mishra to ANI..

Clashes broke out earlier after Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati's visit to Saharanpur, where one person was killed and several others were injured.

The State Government also announced to give compensation of Rs. 15 lakh to relatives of the person, who was killed during this incident.

In the wake of clashes between two communities in Saharanpur, the Yogi Adityanath Government transferred 174 Sub-Divisional Magistrates.

On May 5, one person was killed and 16 people, including a head constable, were injured in clashes between the Dalits and the Rajputs in Shabbirpur and Simlana villages.