Congress gheraoed assembly today over payment of dues to MNREGA workers, leaders put under house arrest

There has been a stir in the capital of Uttar Pradesh since morning regarding the assembly siege organized by the Congress. The issue of payment pending for months to the laborers working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is being said to be the main reason for this demonstration.

The party had already made it clear that the fight for the rights of MNREGA workers will be fought from the streets to the House. Congress workers have started gathering from different parts of the city, while the administration has started taking precautionary action.

Controversy over detention of leaders

Even before the siege program, the police administration has adopted a strict stance and put many Congress leaders under house arrest. The party alleges that the government is violating democratic rights and trying to suppress peaceful demonstrations.

On the other hand, the administration argues that these precautionary steps have been taken in view of the law and order situation. Heavy police force has been deployed around the Assembly complex and barricading has been arranged to prevent the protesters from entering the complex.

State President expressed his views

Congress state president Ajay Rai reached the party office early in the morning and started making strategies with the workers. Questioning the basic objective of the MNREGA scheme, he said that the scheme was implemented in the name of Mahatma Gandhi which provided 100 days of employment to the poor.

“The present Modi government is completely abolishing this law. The wages of MNREGA workers have been withheld for 11-12 months. Imagine how they will run their families? How many poor people there are, people who dig wells every day and drink water every day.” — Ajay Rai, State President Congress

Ajay Rai also said that the poor were confident that they would get work and would be able to support their families, but now their payments have been stopped.

Target on other issues also

The state president did not limit himself only to MNREGA. He also cornered the Yogi government on issues like alleged insult to Shankaracharya, breaking of the statue of Mata Ahilyabai Holkar, demolition of Dal Mandi and giving notice to the 600 year old tomb of Lucknow. He also mentioned the cases of atrocities on women in the state.

Congress MP Kishori Lal Sharma said that many people are coming to join the protest and seeing the enthusiasm of the workers, the state government is scared, hence the leaders are being placed under house arrest. He said that protesting is a constitutional right in any democracy.

Additional police forces have been deployed across the city and vigil is being maintained on all routes leading to the assembly. The administration does not want the situation to go out of control, hence strict surveillance is being maintained in the entire area.