Lucknow: The Lucknow Police has refused permission for a proposed protest rally at Eco Garden, which was planned to highlight alleged examination paper leaks. The decision was taken due to the organisers' non-cooperation and their failure to engage with authorities despite repeated attempts.
Background of the Protest
The Cockroach Janata Party, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, had scheduled the rally for Friday. Dipke had appealed through social media posts and video messages for large-scale participation. An application seeking permission was submitted by one Vivek Kumar, proposing to hold the protest at Eco Garden in Alambagh from June 12 to June 18, between 10am and 5pm daily.
Police Response
Police officials stated that after receiving the application, multiple attempts were made to contact the organisers for discussions regarding the programme and necessary administrative arrangements. However, the organisers neither responded to communications nor attended meetings despite being called several times. A police official said, "In view of the non-compliance and lack of coordination from the organisers, permission for the proposed protest has been denied."
Involvement of AISA
The All India Students’ Association (AISA) was also part of the protest. Samvidha Rastogi, vice-president of AISA’s Lucknow unit, said they had informed police about the protest at Eco Garden but had not submitted any formal application. She stated, "Eco Garden is a designated protest venue and it is our democratic right to protest and raise our voices against repeated paper leaks."
Police Stance on Protocol
Police maintained that while Eco Garden is a designated protest site, prior permission is mandatory, especially for large gatherings, to ensure proper crowd management and prevent any law and order issues. Officials emphasised that organisers must cooperate with the administration and adhere to prescribed protocols to facilitate peaceful demonstrations.
