In a shocking incident that has sparked widespread debate on civic responsibility, decorative flower pots placed for a high-profile inauguration in Lucknow were stolen en masse just hours after the ceremony concluded. The thefts occurred on Thursday, December 26, 2025, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed the city following the inauguration of the Rashtra Prerna Sthal.
The Incident: Pots Vanish After Dignitaries Depart
Videos that quickly went viral on social media platforms showed individuals stopping their vehicles along the road leading to the newly inaugurated national memorial complex. The clips, captured soon after the Prime Minister and other dignitaries left, depicted people loading the decorative flower pots onto their two-wheelers and driving away. Others were seen simply carrying the pots off by hand. The event was held to mark the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, UP Governor Anandiben Patel, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Official Confirmation and Scale of Theft
An official from the Lucknow Development Authority's horticulture department later confirmed the scale of the pilferage to news agencies. Over 4,000 flower pots were reported missing from the route. In addition to the plants, cutouts featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, which were part of the decorative arrangements, were also reportedly taken away by members of the public.
Social Media Erupts in Debate on Civic Mindset
The viral video, which amassed over two lakh views, ignited a fierce online discussion about public behavior and civic sense in India. Users on platform X (formerly Twitter) expressed a range of opinions, highlighting a perceived gap between infrastructure development and societal mindset.
Key reactions from social media included:
- One user remarked, "Development isn't just infrastructure; it's behaviour. Civic sense is the real soft power we still need to build."
- Another commented, "It's not a lack of money, it's a lack of mindset. As long as public property is seen as 'free stuff,' development will remain limited to stages and events."
- A third perspective added, "Its not just the civic sense… also the selfish mindset developed in the society which doesn't think of the country or society as a whole."
Many observers noted that such incidents are not uncommon in India, which often explains why municipal authorities swiftly remove decorative items after public events conclude. Ironically, as pointed out in some social media posts, those involved in such acts are often not from impoverished backgrounds but from economically stable households.
The incident at the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow has thus transcended a mere case of petty theft, evolving into a national conversation about ownership of public property, civic duty, and the behavioral aspects of a developing society.
