Lucknow:
Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and leaders, including Mayors, were today allegedly injured when police lathicharged to prevent them from marching towards Raj Bhawan in protest against amendment in Local Bodies Act.
"More than 50 partymen were injured in a lathicharge by police on a peaceful march towards Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum against the amendment in the Local Bodies Act," BJP MP and senior leader Lalji Tandon alleged.
As scheduled, BJP mayors, chairmen and corporators tried to march towards the Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum to Governor B L Joshi.
The bill, which has been passed by both Houses of Vidhan Sabha, proposes indirect election for the post of mayor and chairman in the urban local bodies instead of direct elections.
As the procession reached the capital crossing in front of the General Post Office (GPO), the party workers were intercepted by police.
When the party workers insisted on marching towards the Raj Bhawan and attempted to force their way by pulling down the barricades, police first used water cannons and then used force to disperse the BJP workers and leaders.
BJP workers retaliated by pelting stones.
In the meantime, some policemen entered the house of Tandon and allegedly damaged his car and some other things.
"The policemen forcibly entered my house, damaged my car and other things," the party leader alleged.
Accusing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of misguiding people, Tandon said that if the Local Bodies Act is amended, it would destroy the nursery of politics.
"Those, who call themselves the follower of Ambedkar, are killing the constitution framed by him," he alleged.
Meanwhile, agitated with the lathicharge, party workers led by state president Surya Pratap Shahi staged a sit-in dharna, which ended with their court arrest.
"More than 50 partymen were injured in a lathicharge by police on a peaceful march towards Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum against the amendment in the Local Bodies Act," BJP MP and senior leader Lalji Tandon alleged.
As scheduled, BJP mayors, chairmen and corporators tried to march towards the Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum to Governor B L Joshi.
The bill, which has been passed by both Houses of Vidhan Sabha, proposes indirect election for the post of mayor and chairman in the urban local bodies instead of direct elections.
As the procession reached the capital crossing in front of the General Post Office (GPO), the party workers were intercepted by police.
When the party workers insisted on marching towards the Raj Bhawan and attempted to force their way by pulling down the barricades, police first used water cannons and then used force to disperse the BJP workers and leaders.
BJP workers retaliated by pelting stones.
In the meantime, some policemen entered the house of Tandon and allegedly damaged his car and some other things.
"The policemen forcibly entered my house, damaged my car and other things," the party leader alleged.
Accusing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of misguiding people, Tandon said that if the Local Bodies Act is amended, it would destroy the nursery of politics.
"Those, who call themselves the follower of Ambedkar, are killing the constitution framed by him," he alleged.
Meanwhile, agitated with the lathicharge, party workers led by state president Surya Pratap Shahi staged a sit-in dharna, which ended with their court arrest.
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