Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meets Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad in Meerut hospital

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday met Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad at a hospital where the Dalit leader was admitted a day earlier. Chandrashekhar Azad was taken into custody by police on Tuesday for violating the model code of conduct, officials said.

Azad was detained while leading a procession that included cars and motorcycles, but was shifted to the hospital when he took ill. The code violation was allegedly over the number of vehicles in the political rally.

“He is a young man who is struggling and raising his voice, but this government is trying to suppress his voice. I am here because I like his energy and the way he raises voice for youth,” said Gandhi.

Congress Gen Secy for UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on meeting Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar in Meerut: He is a young man who is struggling & raising his voice, but this govt is trying to suppress his voice. I am here because I like his energy&the way he raises voice for youth pic.twitter.com/Sykprk3MRy

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 13, 2019

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has given Priyanka Gandhi the charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Senior Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar said Chandrashekhar and his supporters were detained by police at Deoband in Shaharanpur district. Chandrashekhar had told reporters in a news conference in New Delhi on Saturday that if the opposition's “mahagathbandhan” fails to field strong candidates against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Smriti Irani,  Bhim Army would field its own strong candidates against them.