Gujarat CM shown black flags, balloons by Congress

LUCKNOW: While the chief ministers of Gujarat and Congress exchanged love for each other at an event in Indira Gandhi Pratishthan on Monday, UP Congress workers intensified their protest against Vijay Rupani.

The Congress workers showed black flags to the cavalcade of Gujarat CM passed as it passed through the Lohia Path. Besides releasing black balloons carrying messages against Rupani, the Congress workers burnt an effigy of the Gujarat CM.

Speaking against Rupani, Congress spokesperson Zeeshan Haider said: "the way people from UP and Bihar have been harassed in Gujarat and then driven away to their home states speaks for their ineptitude of BJP governments at the Centre and in states of Gujarat, UP and Bihar. Then they have the audacity to accuse the Congress party of their misdeed. Our protest is a gentle reminder to Rupani that we live in democracy."

Congress worker Anshu Awasthi added that Rupani's visit to Lucknow to invite UP CM for the unveiling of Sardar Patel's statue exemplified how superficial is BJP’s claim of stake on leaders who gave everything they had in the freedom movement.

"I hope the Vijay Rupani and BJP are aware that Sardar Patel earned the title of Bismark of India for spearheading the unification of states... Had the BJP genuinely believed him Patel, the disrespect to natives of UP and Bihar wouldn't have happened," Awasthi told TOI.

On Sunday too, Congress workers showed black flags to Gujarat CM's cavalcade in Hazratganj area for which the local police detained around 20 men. The workers were let off after warning.