Three members of a right-wing fringe group called the UP Nav Nirman Sena, were booked by the Lucknow police, late on Tuesday, 11 December, for putting up hoardings praising UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath while criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi in different parts of Lucknow.
The hoardings had the words: “Yogi Lao Desh Bachao” (bring Yogi and save country) “Jumlebaazi ka naam Modi” (Name of fake promises is Modi) and “Hindutva Ka Brand Yogi” (Yogi is a Hindutva Brand), as well as #Yogi4PM, written on it, Hindustan Times reported.
The hoardings were reportedly put up across the city after the BJP lost the elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the report added.
Speaking to the newspaper, Additional municipal commissioner Amit Kumar said:
“No permission was taken from the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) for the installation of such hoardings . The hoardings were pulled down as soon as additional municipal commissioner Anil Mishra saw one of them on Wednesday morning.”
Kumar also said the LMC had lodged an FIR against the organisation at the Hazratganj police station and those responsible for installing the hoardings without permission from the authority, the report added.
Adding to this, Kumar also said that Municipal commissioner Indramani Tripathi had ordered LMC officials to go tough on organisations and individuals who were seen “spreading hatred” in the society.
Responding to the allegations, Nav Nirman Sena founder Amit Jaani said he had every right to express his political views and that there was no fault in the hoardings. He also reportedly released a pro-Yogi video, the report added.
According to the newspaper, Jaani also said he would support NOTA (none of the above) instead of Modi in the 2019 elections and stated that Yogi was a better Prime Ministerial candidate as the UP Chief Minister had done more for the society.
(With inputs from Hindustan Times)
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