Protests reach party offices, leaders’ homes

After the constitutional amendment for reservation in promotion was passed by Rajya Sabha on Monday, the state government employees intensified their stir on sixth day of their strike by staging protests outside the residences of senior political leaders in Lucknow on Tuesday.

State government employees under the banner of Sarvjan Hitay Sangharsh Samiti (SHSS) took out a procession in Hazratganj. The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state office situated opposite Hazratganj bore the brunt of the employees as they ripped apart the signage, damaged vehicles and pelted stones. The vehicle of former MLA Brijesh Mishra Saurabh was damaged. They also tried to set it on fire, but were stopped by the police. BJP office bearers confined themselves indoors and locked the main gate. Employees, however, pelted stones at least thrice inside the BJP campus.

Policemen, who were deputed to protect the BJP office also did not take any action against the vandalism.

Another group of employees reached Congress office, but since the main building is situated at quite a distance from the gate which was locked, they headed towards Congress MLA Rita Bahuguna Joshi's residence. Some of them also went to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Satish Chandra Mishra's residence and raised slogans against the Bill.

Another group staged protest outside BJP MP from Lucknow Lalji Tandon's residence and also threw ink on the gate and his nameplate. None of the leaders was present at their houses. The SHSS issued an appeal to the government employees for opposing BJP and Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. "Both the Congress and BJP will be taught a lesson during the Lok Sabha polls. All the government employees and their families will oppose them tooth and nail," said Shailendra Dubey, president of SHSS. The SHSS has announced that the strike will continue till the winter session of the parliament lasts. Essential services have been, however, exempted from the strike.

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