Prayagraj, 18 Sept (HS): Congress trans-Ganga district

president Ashfaq Ahmed was taken into custody by the police in Kanheti on Friday.

Ahmed and local Congress activists

were heading to Phulpur MP Praveen

Patel’s home to ceremonially

present puja items and oppose the suggested charges

on UPI transactions. The protesters

chanted slogans related to inflation, joblessness, and issues of public welfare. Authorities stopped

the march at Kanheti, arresting

the district chief and other workers with him to prevent the protest.

Party members vehemently criticized

the arrest, labeling it an effort to stifle nonviolent

and democratic dissent.

In a message, Ashfaq Ahmed stated that no matter how

repressive the BJP government may be, every Congress worker, under the

leadership of State President Ajay Rai, will continue to fight for the people's

rights. He also stated that they are not afraid of jail or house arrest, and

will only grow louder against the BJP's anti-people policies. Following this

incident, Congress workers were outraged. They vowed to take to the streets to

protest this repressive government policy.

As soon as the Congress convoy reached Kanehti in Phulpur,

police forcibly arrested District President Ashfaq Ahmed. Congress leaders

expressed their anger against the police and the government, calling this

action an attempt to suppress the voice of democratic protest. Congress leaders

stated that stopping workers who were peacefully raising their voices on public

issues raises questions about democratic rights. The party vowed to continue

its protests against the proposed UPI fee, unemployment, inflation, and other

issues of public interest. Ashfaq Ahmed stated that Congress will continue to

raise its voice on public issues, from the streets to the House. The morale of

Congress workers will not be dampened by the police action.

Congress Gangapar, while opposing the police action,

demanded from the government to ensure freedom to register protest in a democratic

manner. In the program, Sharad Upadhyay Munna, Dr. Jagat Narayan Singh, Devraj

Upadhyay, Shamshul Qamar, Bholanath Tiwari, Incharge Saddam Hussain Siddiqui,

Dr. Amar Singh Patel, Suresh Patel, Ritesh Pasi, Mohd. Farooq, Pradeep Pandey,

Mohd. Shamim, Panchu Pasi, Lavkush Mishra, Ansar Ali Sonu, Vinod Vishwakarma, Prabhakar

Kumar, Omprakash Saroj, Shiv Prasad Maurya, Ramesh Maurya, Dheeraj Patel,

Kartikeya Pandey, Nanhe Bhai, Naeem Uddin, Shakeel Uddin, Lucky Saroj, etc.

were present.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi