Lucknow University students show black flags to Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, arrested

LUCKNOW: Seven youths including three Lucknow University students and three members of Samajwadi Chhatrasabha were arrested and sent to jail for showing black flags to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani who was on his way to deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma's residence for lunch on Monday.

Among those arrested, Madhurya Singh and Mahendra Yadav had been jailed last year also after they had showed black flags to CM Yogi Adityanath when he had come to attend a function in LU.

Yadav is enrolled in MA political science, while Singh was denied admission this year. The other two arrested LU students are Anuj Yadav, who is doing BBA, and Veeru Pal, student of MA, Modern Indian History.

Samawadi Chhatrsabbha state secretary Karunesh Dwivedi and two student leaders of the SP's student wing Rohit Yadav and Amar Yadav were also arrested.

"All seven have been booked under 151 CrPc for showing black flags to Gujarat chief minister," said Mahanagar SHO Vikas Kumar Pandey. The seven also tried to block the route of Gujarat CM's convoy on University road near Hanuman Setu but police acted swiftly and stopped them as soon as they took out black flags and moved towards the middle of the road while raising slogans. They were rounded up and taken to the sides while the convoy passed.

They were taken to Mahanagar police station, booked under CrPC 151 and sent to jail. Samajwadi Party condemned police action against the youths and termed it government's attempt to trample democratic rights.

"Everyone has a right to protest. This is not how students should be treated. Police action against students is unjustified," said SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary. The youths were protesting against the attacks on North Indians in Gujarat.