Protests have erupted in several parts of the country over the death and forced cremation of a 19-year-old woman in Hathras. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI’s D Raja attended a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Opposition parties took to the streets on Friday and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad, who had earlier called for a protest at India Gate, tweeted that the venue has been shifted to Jantar Mantar after the Delhi police said that no gathering is allowed around India Gate due to imposition of Section 144 CrPC.
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan also attended the protest at Jantar Mantar to demand justice in the Hathras case.
The TMC on Friday said that its leaders were stopped by the Uttar Pradesh Police from meeting the family members of woman. Quoting an MP who was part of the delegation, the party said in the statement, “We are peacefully proceeding to Hathras to meet the family and pay our condolences. We are travelling individually and maintaining all protocols. We are not armed. Why are we stopped? What kind of jungle raj is this that elected MPs are prevented from meeting a grieving family.”
TMC later tweeted that party MPs continued their dharna one kilometre away from the woman’s home after being “roughed up” by Uttar Pradesh police.
Samajwadi Party workers were on Friday lathi charged by the police in Hazratganj area while they were taking out a protest march. The state police said that the action was taken to maintain the state’s law and order.
“We have detained SP workers including some MLAs. They have been taken away from the spot (Hazratganj),” a senior police officer was quoted as saying by PTI.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi attended a prayer meet at the Prachin Bhagwan Valmiki Mandir in Delhi on Friday.
(With PTI inputs)