Visitors in black clothes not allowed at rally venue

GREATER NOIDA: People wearing black clothes were caught unawares at the venue of the chief minister’s rally in Bisada as security personnel refused to allow them in. Those wearing black shirts, T-shirts or kurtas were either told to remove them or return home.
However, some ardent BJP supporters removed their black clothes and attended the programme bare-chested. Sources said the security personnel had been “directed” to stop people wearing black clothes from attending the rally.

Black clothes are considered a mark of protest and participants have often used them in rallies earlier.

Anil Yadav, a resident of Piyawali village, said he had travelled 3-4 km to attend the rally. “I am a BJP supporter and so decided to attend the rally. I had no information that black T-shirt will not be allowed. The BJP or the local administration had not made any such announcement. I reached the programme venue and the security personnel stopped me from attending the rally. I will now prefer to listen to the CM from the roadside,” he said.

A BJP worker who entered the venue bare-chested said he could not have missed the rally for a shirt. “I gave my shirt to somebody outside the venue,” he said, refusing to disclose his name.

However, people who decided against removing their clothes had to return home. “I had come to attend the rally and listen to the chief minister. But the security guards did not allow me to go inside. There is no significant development in rural areas under the BJP government. I will not attend the programme if I have to remove my shirt,” said Vinod Kumar, another resident.

Meanwhile, BJP workers had also installed loudspeakers on the premises of a religious place during the rally in Bisada. However, the loudspeakers were swiftly removed once the programme ended. The district election department said they would look into the matter.