Congress President Rahul Gandhi, party General Secretaries East and West UP Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia, arrived in Shamli on Wednesday to attend the Tehervi of martyr Amit Kari of CRPF.

They also met the family members of martyr Pradeep Kumar who was killed in the terrorist attack at Pulwama last week.

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Rahul, Priyanka, Jyoptiraditya Scindia, along with the UPCC chief Raj Babbar arrived in Shamli on Wednesday via road. The visit was not announced and was an impromptu one.

The leaders met the family members of Amit Kari in Shamli and paid floral tributes.

Rahul and Priyanka referred to the assassination of their own father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi while expressing their grief and vowed to stand with the bereaved family.

“We have experienced grief and know how you are feeling. Not just us but the entire nation is with you. Don’t feel you are alone. We are with you and we will take care of you,” said Priyanka after garlanding a picture of the slain trooper.

Rahul said, “I have lost my father and I can understand how you must be feeling. While it is a sad day, your son’s sacrifice is equally a matter of pride not just for you and us but for the entire nation.

“As a family you gave all your love to your son and your son showered that love for the nation and sacrificed his life. The entire nation is proud of him and all the CRPF men who made the supreme sacrifice,” he said.

“India is a land of the braves. The CRPF martyrs have proven that by example. I also want to tell you that no power in the world can divide India… We are and we will be with you always,” he added, while consoling Amit’s father Sompal and promised him every possible help.

Rahul chanted the Gayatri Mantra along with Amit’s family members while Priyanka spent time with the women of the family. She consoled Amit’s widow and spent time with her and other women.

The leaders arrived in Shamli via road and kept the visit confidential. People came to know of their arrival only when they stopped at a roadside dhaba near Yamuna bridge to have tea. Here, Rahul Gandhi spoke to the people present there.

After paying tributes to Amit in Shamli, they headed towards Meerut to pay tribute to another Pulwama martyr Pradeep Kumar of CRPF.

They visited Pradeep’s family in village Banat of the district and expressed their condolences. Rahul spoke to Pradeep’s elder son Siddharth who is a class 12 student and told him that he is with him and his family.

Rahul also shared his personal number with Siddharth and promised him every possible help. He told Siddharth to call him in case he needs any help and support from him.

When media persons tried to speak to him, Rahul replied that he would not speak to them at that moment as he was here only to meet the family members of the martyrs.