Workers from the Indian National Congress engaged in a heated confrontation with police forces in Lucknow on Wednesday. The protest was a direct response to the recent actions taken by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the ongoing National Herald case, which involves senior party leaders.
Protest Erupts Outside Party Office
The demonstration began near the Congress party office in the Hazratganj area of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. A large group of party supporters and workers gathered to voice their strong opposition to the federal investigation agency's moves. They accused the central government of using investigative bodies to target political opponents unfairly.
Protesters were seen holding placards and shouting slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government and the Enforcement Directorate. The atmosphere grew tense as the crowd attempted to block the road, leading to immediate intervention by a significant police presence deployed to maintain law and order.
Police Detain Protesters to Restore Order
In an effort to clear the blockage and prevent the situation from escalating further, police officials detained several Congress workers from the protest site. The law enforcement action was described as a necessary step to ensure public safety and smooth traffic flow in the busy central Lucknow area.
Senior Congress leaders from the state unit condemned the police action, labeling it as undemocratic and an attempt to stifle peaceful dissent. They reiterated their stance that the National Herald case is politically motivated and designed to harass the party's leadership, including the Gandhi family.
Background of the National Herald Case
The protest stems from the long-running National Herald investigation, which is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate under charges of money laundering. The case involves the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, and Young Indian Private Limited, in which Congress leaders hold significant stakes.
The ED has been investigating allegations that party leaders misused funds and assets worth crores of rupees. The agency's recent searches and questioning of individuals connected to the case have sparked a fresh wave of political controversy, with the Congress party launching nationwide protests.
The Lucknow protest is part of a coordinated series of demonstrations planned by the Congress across various states in India. The party aims to mobilize its cadre and draw public attention to what it calls the government's misuse of central agencies. Political analysts suggest these protests are likely to intensify as the country moves closer to the next general election cycle.
The incident in Lucknow highlights the deepening political rift and the increasingly confrontational stance between the ruling party and the principal opposition. It underscores how legal and financial investigations into political parties often translate into street-level demonstrations, testing administrative control in major cities.
