Pegasus row: UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu arrested as party workers clash with police
A clash broke out when the policemen tried to stop UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu from marching towards Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum on Pegasus row.
UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu and several leaders were arrested following a clash between party workers and the Uttar Pradesh Police in Lucknow on Thursday.
The Congress leaders of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress were on their way to the Governor's House to submit a memorandum on the Pegasus spyware row when a clash broke out with the police.
Ajay Kumar Lallu was earlier in the day placed under house arrest by the police. The UP chief, however, joined Congress workers on foot as they took out a march from Parivartan Chowk to demand a judicial probe into the Pegasus spyware issue.
The police tried to stop Ajay Kumar Lallu but the action followed a clash between party workers and the police.
All protesting workers of the UP Congress, including chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, were arrested and taken to Eco Park.
Ajay Kumar Lallu
pic.twitter.com/yf3IspbrLA— Pilibhit Congress (@UPCCpilibhit) July 22, 2021
Speaking to India Today, Ajay Kumar Lallu hit out at the state government and also accused the Centre of not respecting the privacy of people.
“The Congress will not back down from this struggle against the suppression of democracy,” Ajay Kumar Lallu said.
Along with Uttar Pardesh, Congress leaders in Rajasthan have also planned a march towards the Governor’s residence in Jaipur to demand a judicial probe into the Pegasus spyware issue.
The march will be led by state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra.
The Pegasus row erupted after a global consortium of media houses published a report claiming that Israeli spyware was used in several countries including in India for possible spying on activists, politicians, judges and journalists among others.
While the Opposition has been attacking the government over the issue, the government has denied any involvement in the entire matter.
Also Read | Congress leader Sachin Pilot demands inquiry into Pegasus spyware issue, invokes France’s example