Campus Times|Lucknow

Protesters alleged that when they reached near Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya’s residence, police stopped them and forcefully made them board buses. They also claimed that banners and posters brought for the protest were torn. According to the protesters, these actions were taken to prevent them from continuing their demonstration.

A protest by candidates of the 69,000 teacher recruitment in Lucknow turned tense on Tuesday after police blocked their march, leading to pushing, arguments, and the forcible removal of protesters onto buses.

Candidates alleged discrimination in the handling of the 69,000 teacher recruitment case, claiming that backward and Dalit applicants have been waiting for justice for nearly 10 months. Through posters and graphics, protesters argued that while a Supreme Court decision benefiting 15 per cent upper-caste candidates was delivered in a single day, no progress has been made for the remaining 85 per cent from reservation categories. They also pointed out that a UGC-related matter was resolved within a day, whereas the teacher recruitment issue continues to remain pending.

“We’ll Keep Coming Every Day, Police Can’t Block Us for Long”

Amarendra, who joined the protest, said they would continue coming every day and would approach MLAs, leaders, and ministers one by one. “Let’s see how long the police can stop us. We will keep fighting for our rights for as long as we live,” he said. Questioning leaders who claim to represent backward communities, he added that if they were truly standing for these communities, students from backward castes would not be facing police action