Congress protest march stopped in Lucknow amid face-off with police; party says ‘all limits of brutality crossed’

Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders and workers clashed with police in Lucknow on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) during a protest march against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

Members of the Congress clashed with the police while trying to reach the Vidhan Sabha to raise allegations of the undermining of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), demolition of heritage areas like Dal Mandi in Varanasi, corruption across the State and the breakdown of law in U.P. 

The Congress claimed its “strong resolve outweighs every wall put up by the authorities” and vowed to intensify resistance against the “autocratic BJP government”.

Security personnel detain Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai during a protest demanding reinstatement of MGNREGA, in Lucknow
| Photo Credit:
ANI

The U.P. police did not allow the Congress protest to reach the Vidhan Sabha and stopped it at some distance outside the state Congress office. The protestors, including State Congress president Ajay Rai, were detained for some hours and taken to Eco Garden, a protest venue in Lucknow. 

‘Black day for democracy’: Congress State president

““Today, while going to gherao the assembly, the way the police crossed all limits of brutality on the streets of Lucknow at the behest of the BJP government, is a black day for democracy,” Ajay Rai told The Hindu.

Our workers who were protesting peacefully were brutally beaten, their hands and legs were broken, and the way the police administration treated our women workers is unforgivable. I, too, was attacked with the intent to kill and sustained injuries. In this era of injustice, the bloodshed of each of our workers and the disrespect shown to women will mark the beginning of the BJP’s end,” he said.

Security personnel detain Congress workers during a protest as part of the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram, in Lucknow
| Photo Credit:
PTI

“This oppression will be fully accounted for, and the people of the state will give you a befitting reply in 2027. Our struggle over people-centric issues like undermining the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), demolition of heritage areas like Dal Mandi, corruption and against breakdown of law in U.P. will continue,” said Mr. Rai. 

Mr. Rai added, “The police of the BJP government have tried to suppress our voice by forcibly making us all sit in the Eco Garden, but our spirit is not going to break. No power in the world can stop us from raising the voice of the people in U.P. who are facing state oppression and economic loot by the government, all sections of the society — be it youths, women, farmers or laborers — are frustrated with the BJP government.” 

Barricades around Congress office

Around the Congress State headquarters in Lucknow, numerous barricades were placed since February 16 evening, with many party leaders and workers put under house arrest in different districts of the state a day before to stop them from coming to the State capital. 

“Our planned protest in Lucknow against the undermining of MGNREGA by the government and other issues was forcefully stopped by the administration,” Pramod Tiwari, a senior Rajya Sabha member and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, told The Hindu. 

“Thousands of Congress workers were detained. The authorities used unnecessary force on peaceful protestors. But the BJP won’t be able to intimidate the brave Congress workers who are fighting to protect the rural employment system under the leadership of our leader, Rahul Gandhi.”

“The enthusiasm of Congress on the roads of Lucknow showed that the era of our party is back. Our brave workers neither their bullets nor police. Stop violating the rights of rural population of India,” he said.