July 20, 2019
Trinamool delegation detained at Varanasi airport on way to meet victims of firing
A delegation of Trinamool MPs, comprising Derek O’Brien (Parliamentary Party Leader), Sunil Mondal and Abir Ranjan Biswas, has been “restrained” at Varanasi Airport since 9.45am today by the Uttar Pradesh administration and police. They are not being allowed to leave the airport and so are staging a sit-in protest there.
They had landed there en route to the BHU hospital to meet the Adivasi farmers critically injured in the recent firing, and in which many were massacred as well, while protesting over land rights, at Ubbha Village in Sonbhadra district. A group of goons hired by local landlords had fired upon them.
After meeting the injured, the delegation has planned to go to the village to meet the grieving family members of those killed and injured.
This detention at the airport has happened despite the delegation members assuring the police that they will cooperate fully with the law.
This is a completely unlawful act by the BJP Government of Uttar Pradesh, and another sign of the BJP’s bare intent to throttle the voice of the people.
Trinamool Parliamentary delegation detained at Varanasi airport.ADM,SP have not told us under which section.(“Doing as told from topmost”).We have told them that we will cooperate,wish to meet injured &then proceed to Sonbhadra to meet &give confidence to grieving families: Derek
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 20, 2019
Video message from Trinamool delegation who have been detained/arrested (they still haven’t been told why!) at Varanasi airport tarmac. They were on their way to meet the injured in hospital and meet & give confidence to the grieving families in #Sonbhadra
Watch>> pic.twitter.com/1cSjPfZ7cT— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 20, 2019
Visuals of Trinamool delegation at Varanasi airport. Restrained without any reason. From 9.45 this morning they are sitting on dharna just off the tarmac. Delegation have not been allowed to visit hospital or proceed to #SonbhadraMassacre pic.twitter.com/W50jfo5Bnz
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 20, 2019
UP admin & police have "restrained" Trinamool MPs delegation from leaving the area near the airport tarmac. Dharna continues. Tribals massacred over land rights. The DM has said he will meet us shortly#SonbhadraMassacre
WATCH pic.twitter.com/4MBqoRw4LP
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 20, 2019
#UPDATE
Dharna by Trinamool MPs near airport tarmac started at 9.30, continues. DM met MPs at 12 &informed that police will escort us to BHU TraumaCentre to meet docs attending the injured.After that,permission notwithstanding,deleg wishes to proceed to spot of #SonbhadraMassacre pic.twitter.com/qedSy5AtoU— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 20, 2019
