AJSU workers broke police barricades while attempting to gherao the Jharkhand Assembly on Monday. Inside the House, angry Opposition MLAs questioned the large deployment of police force in Ranchi.
Unruly scenes were witnessed outside the Jharkhand Assembly on Monday as the AJSU party members broke police barricades while attempting to gherao the Vidhan Sabha over their seven-point demands on issues of domicile policy, OBC reservation and employment among others.
AJSU workers congregated at Ranchi’s Daladali Chowk after being denied permission to march towards the state Assembly. While the protestors were initially calm, they became forceful after party president Sudesh Mahto’s speech in the House.
They broke barricades, evaded security arrangements and started moving towards the Assembly. But after seeing more stringent security measures in place, the workers went back.
Inside the House, acrimonious Opposition MLAs questioned the large deployment of police force in Ranchi, turning the capital into a veritable fortress. The district administration had made tight security arrangements in view of the Vidhan Sabha gherao called by AJSU.
Angry at the barricading, Opposition legislators raised the issue before the speaker, calling it a violation of Fundamental Rights and Article 21. They also alleged that their vehicles were stopped at different points on the way to the state Assembly and they faced misbehaviour by policemen.
Sudesh Mahto said that there was a war-like atmosphere in Jharkhand. That’s why he had arrives at the House wearing a helmet, he added.
“What is happening in the state? Can’t the people demonstrate in support of their demands?” he said during question hour.
