By Admin 
A program of assembly gherao has been organized by Congress today in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. The party had already announced that it would raise its voice on the issue of MNREGA workers from the streets to the House. There is a lot of activity in the city since morning and Congress workers have started gathering from different areas.
Many leaders were put under house arrest
The police started showing strictness even before the siege. There are reports of many Congress leaders being placed under house arrest. The party alleges that the government is trying to suppress the movement. On the other hand, the administration says that precautionary measures have been taken to maintain law and order.
Security has been increased around the assembly. Additional police force is deployed and people coming and going are being monitored. Barricading has been done to prevent the protesters from reaching the assembly premises. The administration does not want the situation to worsen, hence vigil is being maintained in the entire area.
Ajay Rai reached Congress office
Congress state president Ajay Rai reached the party office in the morning. From here he is discussing the future strategy with the workers. Party leaders say that they will register their protest peacefully.
MNREGA payment issue
Ajay Rai said, “This siege of the Assembly is on the issue of MNREGA workers not getting their payments. It is against destroying the basic objective of MNREGA, which was implemented in the name of Mahatma Gandhi and which earlier provided work to the poor people. The poor were confident that they would get 100 days of employment and would be able to support their families and homes.”
He further said, “The present Modi government is completely abolishing this law. The wages of MNREGA workers have been withheld for 11-12 months. Just imagine, you who talk big, the country is changing, the country has changed, by saying these lies, you are withholding the wages of the poor man who is the weakest, the weakest poor man. Imagine in what way, how will they be able to run their families? How many poor people are there, dig wells every day, every day. There are people who drink water, if you don’t give them money then they take all the things today.”
Government surrounded on Shankaracharya issue
State President Ajay Rai said, “The Yogi government insulted our respected Shankaracharya, pulled him by the butts of his batukas and hit him with a shoe, insulted Mata Ahilyabai Holkar, broke her statue and lied that the statue was not broken. Yogi went and said that this is what the video showed. You are demolishing the Dal Mandi. You are giving notice to the 600 year old tomb of Lucknow. Atrocities on women in the entire state. It’s happening.”
Meanwhile, MP Kishori Lal Sharma said, “Many people are coming. Our program will go well. Ours is a program of ‘Assembly siege’. Seeing the enthusiasm of our workers, you must have also seen how scared the state government is. They are putting our leaders under house arrest. Protesting is a constitutional right in any democracy. They wanted to crush it.”