BJP’s demonstrators baton charged in Lucknow

LUCKNOW - At least 20 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists were injured here Monday after the police charged at them with batons during their protest march against the “corrupt practices” of the state and central governments, police said.

Shouting anti-government slogans, hundreds of BJP activists were seen forcing their way through the barriers and clashing with the police along the Vidhan Sabha Road off Hazratganj area.

Police denied the BJP’s claims that at least six workers received serious injuries.

“We resorted to force only after the party men turned unruly and tried to block roads and target vehicles,” police inspector K.N. Mishra told reporters here.

In the wake of the protests, adequate security has been deployed at the BJP office, where a large number of the party activists had assembled before carrying out the protests,” he added.

BJP leaders have threatened to intensify their agitation in the coming days.

We will continue with our campaign against the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government,” party spokesperson Vijay Pathak said.

Both the governments have indulged in corrupt practices. They are trying every mean to gag us and other voices being raised against their misdeeds. We would continue to expose them and the scams they are involved in. We would continue to mobilise the common people,” he added.