Several senior Congress leaders heading to Lucknow to gherao the Uttar Pradesh Assembly were stopped in various districts on Wednesday, many were also placed under house arrest. Congress workers who managed to reach the party office in Lucknow were detained by the police and later taken to Eco Garden. Leaders attempting to reach the Vidhan Bhavan faced similar action.
Ajay Rai, the state Congress president, who led the protest, was arrested and fainted briefly during a scuffle with the police. Congress legislature party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona staged a protest near Chaudhary Charan Singh's statue at the Vidhan Bhavan, raising issues related to law and order and farmers' grievances. She too was arrested after voicing her concerns during the Assembly session.
As Congress leaders began arriving in Lucknow on Wednesday morning, authorities intensified security measures. Barricades were set up at multiple locations, and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were deployed outside the Congress state headquarters. Police started detaining leaders gathered near the party office.
Ajay Rai criticised the security measures, alleging that the government was using sharp barricades designed to cause harm. "This government wants to kill our workers. We will enter the Assembly despite all obstacles," he said. Police also issued notices to over two dozen senior Congress leaders, including outgoing state general secretary Anil Yadav and Dinesh Singh, warning them against creating disturbances.
According to police notices, the ongoing Assembly session and the presence of VIPs in the area necessitated strict law-and-order measures. Prohibitory orders were enforced under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Defense Code, with officials warning of "strict action" in case of any disruption.
Suresh Khanna, the UP parliamentary affairs minister, defended the administration's actions, asserting that steps were taken to prevent any breach of peace. "The administration is fully prepared to maintain law and order," he said.
Despite the crackdown, Ajay Rai vowed that the Congress would not be deterred. "Just as the Modi government built walls of thorns against farmers, the Yogi government has laid thorns on the path of Congress workers. But these barriers will not shake our resolve," he asserted.
Meanwhile, a Congress worker, Prabhat Pandey, died during the protest in Lucknow. He had come from Gorakhpur to participate in the demonstration. The reason of his death is not known. His body was taken to Civil Hospital, where Rai met family members of the deceased.
