Barricades and a riot squad have been placed in front of the residence of former Uttar Pradesh Prime Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow to prevent him from going to Kannauj to lead a farmers’ protest.
The chairman of the Samajwadi Party had announced Kisaan Yatra throughout the state – on foot, bicycles, motorcycles, tractors, etc. – to protest against the new agricultural reforms and support the cause of farmers.
This occurs on the day that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to virtually launch the construction of phase one of the Agra metro railway project, while Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath will be physically present in Agra.
“This government is very afraid that Akhilesh ji will take to the streets. You have to go there to participate in the farmers’ protest and drive a tractor together with the farmers to raise your problem. First, the central government introduced draconian agricultural laws, and now the state government prevents our party from protesting. This is all so undemocratic, ”said Rajendra Chaudhary, SP state spokesman and former UP minister.
The police have heavily cordoned off the Vikramaditya marg (where SP’s office and Akhilesh’s home are located) and have also deployed riot control vehicles. The police have already taken two members of the SP’s legislative council, Ashu Malik and Rajpal Kashyap, and sent them to the police lines.
Last week, Akhilesh Yadav had announced the launch of Kisaan yatra (road rallies for farmers) across the state from December 7.
“Our yatras, scheduled to start from today, were against the BJP’s anti-peasant policy and in favor of the peasants and will be eliminated in each and every district,” said Rajendra Chaudhary.
Party workers during the demonstrations were asked to increase the demand for “higher income for farmers, save agriculture.”
Joint Police Commissioner Lucknow Navin Arona said police were deployed to avoid any problems with law and order.
Akhilesh is currently a MP for Azamgarh but had been a former MP for Kannauj on three occasions. His wife, Dimple Yadav, is also a former MP for Kannauj.
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