Congress protest turns violent

“Many of our leaders have been seriously injured during the lathicharge,some have also got head injuries and have been admitted in the trauma centre. We just wanted to take out a peaceful candle march covering about half a kilometre from Shaheed Smarak to CMO office,which should not have been a problem for the police. But,they refused to let our workers move ahead and then lathicharged them brutally,” Rita Bahuguna Joshi told The Indian Express.

She added,“The way police has treated us brutally,it has confirmed our belief that senior BSP leaders are involved in the two murders and anomalies in the Health department. Watching the state government’s reaction,we have decided to file a Public Interest Litigation in the court demanding CBI investigation.”

Joshi said the Congress would also demand registration of an FIR against policemen for mishandling party workers,which included a large number of women. “If the police fail to lodge our FIR in today’s incident,we would gherao the DGP office,” Joshi further said.

Alleging BSP leaders’ involvement in CMO murders,the Congress had earlier announced taking out of “Nyaya march” in all the districts of the state on Monday. Alleging the resignation of two ministers and transfer of state government officials as an eyewash,the party is demanding CBI inquiry in the case.

Even the rival factions within the UP Congress had joined the party agitation today. Last time,the party had failed to effectively protest against amendments in UP Urban local self government laws. Samajwadi party had taken a lead in that protest. Since then the party has been trying to find an issue,which it can be take up aggressively against the state government.

Congress leaders said they will continue to demand CBI enquiry in the case and would now approach the court for it.