'Under which rule ...': Rahul Gandhi vs UP cops at Lucknow airport

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday left for violence-hit Lakhimpur Kheri from the Lucknow airport after a brief standoff with security personnel over whether he should be allowed to travel in his own car.
In a video, Rahul can be seen arguing with the cops who are insisting that he should leave the airport in a police car.
Live updates: Lakhimpur Kheri incident
"Are you deciding how I will go? Just tell me the rule? Under which rule are you deciding how I'll go," an agitated Rahul asked the security personnel.
When told there is traffic jam along the route and it (police escort) will be more convenient, Rahul said he travels with his security personnel every day, even in traffic jams.

"I just don't want to go in your vehicle. We don't need it," Rahul said.
The security personnel then told Rahul that they would escort him to Sitapur border and arrangements have been made for the same, but the Congress leader didn't budge.
To another question, he said, "You can put me or Priyanka in a jail. It does not have any meaning. The question is that six people were crushed by criminals. Those who should have been in a jail, are not being put in a jail. We are being stopped from meeting the aggrieved families of the farmers."
He was eventually allowed to leave the airport in his own car.
Rahul had reached the Lucknow airport from Delhi along with Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel.

He is on his way to Sitapur where his sister Priyanka Gandhi has been held in detention since Monday morning.
She was on her way to meet the families of farmers killed in Sunday's violence in Lakhimpur Kheri when she was stopped.
Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government granted permission to all political parties to visit Lakhimpur Kheri where eight people died in violence during a farmers' protest three days back.
However, only five people will be allowed at a time, a top official said.
(With inputs from agencies)