Protest rallies by various associations to Vidhan Sabha in support of their demands caused major inconvenience to the school students, office goers and local residents in the city.
The movement of the public was restricted at police barricading on different roads to Vidhan Sabha. At noon, there were long queues of vehicles at different crossings due to protest rallies. Irked over restriction of movement during Assembly session, the citizens have demanded permanent solution to the problem. Pedestrians were seen arguing with police when they were stopped at Rispana Bridge police barricading.
Police had made elaborate security measures in view of the rallies by Bharatiya Janata Party and various unions.To maintain law and order around the Assembly premises, the District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam, SSP Kewal Khurana and other administration and police officers were present at Rispana Bridge barricading as all the agitators were allowed to carry out their protest rally upto this spot only.
With the start of protest rallies of BJP and different unions after 12 pm, various roads in the city experienced traffic congestion.Due to traffic diversion around Vidhan Sabha public transport vehicles, school buses and private vehicles had to change route, causing much inconvenience to the public. Public transport users including senior citizens and school children trudged to board buses and Vikrams at different locations.
When the police stopped vehicular movement near the barricading during protest rallies many road users trying to cross the barricading had arguments with the police.
School student Anand Sharma said, “I live in Pragati Vihar and it takes only five minutes to reach my home from Rispana Bridge but now I will have to walk at least two kms in the heat to reach my home with the police closing the road.”
A woman riding a two wheeler expressed her anger on police when she was stopped at the barricading. She said that people in the state capital are being harassed by the police during Assembly session. A local said, “The state government should change Vidhan Sabha venue to resolve problems faced by the public during the Assembly session.”