RSS-Congress activists clash in Lucknow

LUCKNOW - Congress and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) activists came to blows here late Friday evening, police said.

The clash erupted in the Model House area, where Congress activists assembled in front of Keshav Bhawan, an RSS office, and protested against former RSS chief K.S. Sudershan’s derogatory remarks against party chief Sonia Gandhi.

Armed with stones and wooden sticks, Congress activists raised anti-RSS slogans and burnt Sudershan’s effigy. In response, RSS activists also converged at the site and started burning Congress flags after which the clash broke out.

Members of both the sides indulged in brick batting and were also seen attacking their opponents with wooden sticks. Police baton charged the protesters in order to bring the situation under control.

“No one was seriously injured in the incident… Additional security has been deployed in the area in the wake of the clash,” police inspector R.K. Shukla told reporters here.

Security has also been strengthened in and around the offices of Congress party in Mall Avenue, the Bharatiya Janata Party in Hazratganj and the RSS in Qaiserbagh.