Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India]: Police have detained several workers of the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) and Bhim Army who gathered to protest outside the Uttar Pradesh state assembly in Lucknow, raising various demands. The authorities have heightened security around the assembly premises to manage the situation.
A substantial deployment of civil forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and Rapid Response Force (RRF), was witnessed to prevent any untoward incidents during the protest. As a precautionary measure, metro services at the KD Babu metro station were temporarily halted, with trains bypassing the station. Additionally, heavy security forces were deployed along the route from Parivartan Chowk to Hazratganj and the Sikanderbagh area.
Meanwhile, Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) chief and MP Chandrashekhar Azad staged a separate protest outside Parliament in New Delhi, holding banners condemning the Uttar Pradesh government. One of the banners read, “Uttar Pradesh mein loktantra ki hatya” (Democracy has been murdered in Uttar Pradesh). This protest coincided with the reconvening of both Houses of the Indian Parliament for the second part of the budget session.
Speaking to ANI, Azad expressed serious concerns about the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.
“Our mother, sisters, youth, poor are not safe in Uttar Pradesh. Even journalists are not safe. Nobody is there to ask about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Police and the government are speaking the same language. We had announced a protest for today, but yesterday when I was returning from Bihar, I was detained and sent to Delhi. Our thousands of workers were detained… Nobody is safe in Uttar Pradesh… We are protesting against injustice,” Azad said.
The Bhim Army had earlier announced a significant protest in front of the Legislative Assembly in Lucknow to address various issues affecting the state. In anticipation of this, security arrangements were significantly ramped up to prevent any disruption.
In a related development, on February 24, during the fifth day of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly budget session, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLAs staged a protest inside the assembly. The ruckus followed a comment made by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak about Mulayam Singh, leading to heated exchanges. Vidhan Sabha Speaker Satish Mahana intervened, directing the protesting SP MLAs to leave the assembly.
The situation in Lucknow remains tense with the ongoing protests and heightened security measures as authorities work to restore normalcy.