Lucknow, February 17 Congress leaders and workers clashed with police on Tuesday as they attempted to march to the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha during the budget session to protest against issues such as the replacement of the rural employment scheme MGNREGA and misgovernance.
The clash led to several detentions and alleged baton charges.
Shortly after the Assembly proceedings began in the morning, a large number of Congress workers, led by senior leaders, began marching from the party headquarters towards the Vidhan Bhavan nearby as part of an "MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan" (Save MGNREGA Campaign).
However, they were stopped midway by a heavy deployment of police and Rapid Action Force personnel, and multiple layers of barricading were erected along the route.
As the protesters attempted to push forward, raising slogans accusing the government of "hiding behind the police out of fear", security personnel moved in to disperse the crowd.
Congress workers tried to scale the barricades, and in some places, senior leaders, including state unit president Ajay Rai, were seen standing atop the barricades amidst the jostling.
Police sources said that several protesting leaders and workers were taken into custody and shifted to Eco Garden.
Manish Hindvi, vice-chairman of UP Congress' media department, told
Many protesters were seen carrying the tricolour and Congress party flags and posters bearing Mahatma Gandhi's image. They held banners supporting the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and opposing the new legislation that has replaced it.
The Congress rally saw the participation of several women workers. One of them, Maitri, said the party was determined to gherao the Assembly and register its protest.
Hindvi said the leaders who took part in the protest march included Congress national general secretary and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Avinash Pande, state unit president Ajay Rai, MP Kishori Lal Sharma, Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra and MLA Virendra Chaudhary.
He alleged that Congress MP from Barabanki, Tanuj Punia, was placed under house arrest before he could leave to join the protest. Leaders from Rae Bareli, Amethi and other districts were prevented from travelling to Lucknow, he said.
Speaking to
