Lucknow, Dec 28 (UNI) Congress leaders celebrating 136th foundation day on Monday were stopped from garlanding the statue of Mahatma Gandhi here when police stopped them from coming out of the state party headquarters.

State party president Ajay Kumar Lallu, in the morning hoisted the party flag and addressed the workers at the state party headquarters.

There after the party workers and leaders led by Mr Lallu tried to march to GPO at Hazratganj to garland the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. But police outside the party office refused to let them come out of the office and go towards the GPO.

Later Mr Lallu and other Congress leaders sat on dharna outside the party office.

Talking to mediapersons Mr Lallu alleged that the BJP government in UP was crushing the democratic rights of the people and political parties.

" We will not succumb to such pressure tactics and will give them a befitting reply," he said.

UNI MB SY 1449