Akhilesh Yadav begins dharna after cops halt MLAs’ mega march in Lucknow

Soon after it started, Akhilesh Yadav’s mega march to the Uttar Pradesh state assembly in Lucknow on Monday was halted as he sat on a dharna in the middle of a road near the party headquarters.

He was reportedly refused by the cops to proceed with his party members in cars to the Vidhan Sabha. The police also did not allow them to move through an alternative route.

Here are latest updates on Akhilesh Yadav’s protest march:

1. Visuals captured the Samajwadi Party chief’s mega show of strength to the state assembly against what it claims the misgovernance of the ruling BJP. They are protesting against inflation and unemployment.

2. About 100 odd MLAs and some party cardres were believed to have taken part. The Samajawadi Party has a total of 111 MLAs and 9 MLCs.

3. Akhilesh Yadav – during the foot march – was seen carrying a banner with slogans against the ruling Yogi Adityanath government.

4. The march is being carried out on a day when the monsoon session of the assembly starts.

5. Speaking to reporters before the monsoon session, Yogi Adityanath said he expected a productive session. At the same time he took a potshot at the SP too.

6. “I think it’s not legitimate to expect the Samajwadi Party to follow rules,” Yogi Adityanath said amid the massive march, adding that the cops gave them necessary permissions.

7. His deputy, Keshav Prasad Maurya called the pad yatra “a photo opportunity”.

8. “The SP’s protest is not related to the benefit of common people. If they want to discuss this, they are free to do it in the Assembly. Our government is ready for discussions. SP is jobless now, they’ve nothing to do. Such protests will only create problems for people,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

9. Akhilesh Yadav’s march comes amid attempts by the opposition to unite against the ruling BJP ahead of the 2024 national polls.

10. The Congress – earlier this month – launched a mass contact programme, Bharat Jodo Yatra, in an attempt to revive grassroot connect.