The Congress announced on Monday afternoon that party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had begun a fast after she was detained by the Uttar Pradesh Police earlier in the day.
Priyanka was detained on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri where eight people were killed when some protesting farmers were run over by a car on Sunday. Priyanka was taken to a guest house of the Provincial Armed Constabulary in Sitapur after being detained.
A Congress spokesperson said Priyanka was determined not to return without meeting the kin of the victims of Sunday's violence.
The Congress shared a video clip of Priyanka sweeping the room in which she was detained. The party tweeted, "This fast is for the right of the farmers, to protect the constitutional rights. The BJP government cannot crush our democratic and constitutional rights. The fight for rights will continue following the path of Gandhiji."
An aide of Priyanka told NDTV, "The room where she has been lodged was dirty; she cleaned the room herself."
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Earlier, when Uttar Pradesh Police sought to stop her, Priyanka demanded to see an arrest warrant. She was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying "Are you going to kidnap me. Is it your legal status? Don’t think, I don’t understand this? Arrest me if you want. I will readily go with you... You are trying to forcibly push me. This is physical assault, attempt to kidnap, attempt to molest, attempt to harm. You dare not touch me. Get an arrest warrant from your officers and ministers."
