Justifying the Uttar Pradesh government’s stand in not allowing Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to visit Sonebhadra, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma said that prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC was promulgated in that area and as the Congress general secretary was a SPG protectee, she was not allowed to go there.

Sharma said that Priyanka was allowed to meet the injured in hospital but as prohibitory orders are in force in Ombuha village under Ghorawal police station of Sonebhadra district, she was not allowed to go there.

“Congress leaders’ sudden love for Sonebhadra farmers is nothing but crocodile tears. The land deal which led to this massacre was inked when Congress was in power. Then the Congress leaders allowed this wrong to happen and now they are fuming,” Sharma said while talking to reporters here on Friday.

He said the Congress planned to take political mileage from this issue but this would not be allowed to happen.

“Two major land deals, one in 1955 and the other in 1989, were signed during Congress regimes. In the first deal, gram sabha land was given to a society and in the second deal, the said land was transferred to an individual, which is illegal,” Sharma said.

The UP government has ordered an enquiry by a three-member committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) and asked to submit its report within 10 days, the Deputy Chief Minister said, adding this would bring out the truth.

When asked about Mayawati’s allegation that Bharatiya Janata Party was anti-Dalit, Sharma said that Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party leaders had a record in land-grabbing. “When action is taken against them they say it is vindictive,” he added.