Congress Leaders, Including UP Chief Ajay Rai, Arrested During Protest in Lucknow
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Lucknow, Dec 18 (NationPress) Multiple Congress leaders, most notably Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai, faced police detention while en route to staging a ‘gherao’ of the Assembly on Wednesday.
The demonstration aimed to express dissent against the policies of the BJP-led Yogi Adityanath government, concentrating on significant issues like unemployment, corruption, and the recent Sambhal violence.
Hundreds of Congress supporters participated in the protest, which was met with substantial resistance from law enforcement, resulting in numerous detentions.
Reports indicate that Ajay Rai's health took a turn for the worse during the protest.
Immediately following his detention, Rai addressed the press, accusing the BJP government of employing extreme tactics to silence the Congress party.
"The BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government seeks to eliminate all Congress workers. They fear Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra," Rai stated.
"However, we remain steadfast, and we will ensure their defeat in the upcoming elections," he asserted.
This protest was organized to challenge the Yogi Adityanath government regarding its management of pressing issues, particularly the violence in Sambhal. Despite the heavy-handed police response, including the detention of numerous Congress workers and the house arrest of several leaders, the Congress party stood firm.
On social media platform X, the UP Congress shared visuals from the protests.
“The BJP's oppressive measures cannot shake the unwavering determination of Congress members. Injustice against Dalits, backward classes, women, farmers, and youth will not be tolerated in this state,” read one post, emphasizing the party's ongoing commitment to contest what they perceive as oppressive government actions.
In another statement, the UP Congress adopted a defiant stance, asserting, “Baba's government (Yogi Adityanath) may have built countless barriers with police support to prevent Congress workers from gheraoing the Assembly, but our determination surpasses any obstacle. Under the guidance of Congress General Secretary/In-charge for Uttar Pradesh, Shri @avinashpandeinc, and State President Shri @kashikirai, Congress members will demand accountability from the government today.”
Meanwhile, the state government's response to the protest was rapid. Numerous Congress leaders were placed under house arrest statewide to deter their participation in the Lucknow demonstration. Police also reinforced security measures by barricading routes and deploying additional personnel around the Legislative Assembly to keep protesters at bay.
