Rahul Gandhi leaves Lucknow Airport after a slight argument with UP cops over transport

Moments after the Yogi Adityanath government granted permission to Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others to visit Lakhimpur Kheri, the Congress accused the Uttar Pradesh Police of attempting to impede their visit.

Rahul Gandhi had arrived at Lucknow Airport on Wednesday afternoon with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Congress functionaries Randeep Surjewala and K.C. Venugopal.

Priyanka Gandhi has been in custody in Sitapur since Monday when she was stopped on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri.

After arriving at Lucknow Airport, Rahul and the other Congress leaders were seen arguing with Uttar Pradesh Police personnel, following which they sat on a dharna.

After a few minutes, the Congress leaders were permitted to leave the airport premises. Media reports said he was allowed to take his own vehicle to go to Lakhimpur Kheri via Sitapur.

Interestingly, on Monday, the Uttar Pradesh government had requested the Lucknow Airport to deny permission to Baghel and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who had planned to visit Lakhimpur Kheri. On Tuesday, Baghel had reached Lucknow Airport, but was barred from exiting the premises.