Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday attacked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his government's handling of the protests over the citizenship law and asserted that people will not allow" NRC in the country.
Wrapping up her four-day visit to Lucknow, Priyanka Gandhi also demanded a judicial probe into the alleged police excesses in handling the recent anti-CAA stir in the state, claiming that a total of 23 people died during the agitation, against the state's claim of 19 casualties.
In a press conference, the Congress general secretary also questioned the CM's practice of wearing saffron robes, saying they denote Hinduism, which has no place for violence or revenge.
The reference was to Adityanath's warning that the property of those who damaged public assets in the protests over the Citizen Amendment Act will be auctioned to compensate for the losses.
Priyanka Gandhi also asserted that the people "will not allow" to have a National Register of Citizens in the country.
"The NRC is not a valid certificate of citizenship. The NRC has no relationship with valid citizenship certificate. Chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states have said it will not be implemented in their states," she said.
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"You have seen that other parties have also made similar announcements. So, this cannot be implemented as people will not allow its implementation," she said.
Referring to the government's punitive actions against the vandals during the anti-CAA protests, she said those who indulged in violence should be identified first.
"Without a probe, how can you take action?" she asked.
Attacking Chief Minister Adityanath, she said, "This is the country of Lord Krishna - who was the symbol of compassion. Lord Ram was the symbol of compassion. Everybody dances in the marriage procession (baraat) of Lord Shiva. There is no place for 'hinsaa' (violence), 'badlaa' (revenge) and 'ranj' (anger) in the country's soul.
"When Shrikrishna gave sermons to Arjuna during the Mahabharat war, he did not talk about revenge or anger to the great warrior on the battlefield. He only brought out the feelings of compassion and truth," she said.
"He wears the dress (vastra) of an Yogi. He wears saffron clothes. This bhagwa (saffron) is not yours, it belongs to 'dhaarmik' (religious), 'aadhyaatmik' (spiritual) tradition of Hindustan. It is a symbol of the Hindu religion. Uss dharma ko dhaaran kariye (adopt that religion). In that religion, there is no place for anger, violence and revenge. This is all I have to say."