Lucknow: Ahead of the joint sitting of the Uttar Pradesh legislature on Monday, opposition parties led by the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress staged a sit-in protest outside the assembly complex, targeting the BJP govt over inflation, unemployment and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The MLAs from opposition parties assembled near the Vidhan Bhavan, holding placards and raising slogans. They accused the govt of overlooking public concerns and weakening democratic processes. The protest also reflected coordination among parties of the INDIA bloc in the state.
SP legislators alleged that the ruling dispensation’s policies were adversely affecting PDA communities—backward classes, Dalits and minorities—and claimed that their rights were being undermined through governance and electoral decisions. They said welfare measures and administrative actions were not being implemented in a fair and inclusive manner. Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona focused her criticism on the SIR exercise, alleging a lack of transparency and warning that it could impact voters’ rights. Speaking to reporters, she said the opposition came together to oppose what it described as anti-people policies. Issues such as farmers’ distress, rising youth unemployment, worsening law and order, inflation and erosion of constitutional safeguards were raised during the protest, she added. The demonstration also saw SP legislator Sachin Yadav highlight demolition activities near Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi. Holding a portrait of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, he alleged that recent actions showed disregard for her historical role in developing the ghats of the city nearly 3 centuries ago.
