Priyanka Gandhi slams Yogi-govt over banners in Lucknow to name & shame activists

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday slammed the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over banners with photographs of people who have been asked to pay for damage to public property during anti-CAA protests, saying the ruling dispensation has started to consider itself above the Constitution.

Authorities in Lucknow have put up roadside banners with photographs of people asked to pay compensation for damage to public property during anti-CAA protests, triggering outrage among those being named and shamed. The banners came up at major road crossings in Lucknow late on Thursday night on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, an official said.

"The attitude of the BJP government of Uttar Pradesh is such that the head of the government and the officials, who are following his footsteps, have started considering themselves above the Constitution made by Babasaheb Ambedkar," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. "The High Court has told the government that you are not above the Constitution. Your accountability will be fixed," the Congress general secretary said.

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A UP government spokesman had said the posters have been up on the chief minister's directive at important intersections, including the main crossing in the busy Hazratganj area and in front of the Assembly building. The posters say that the property of the accused will be confiscated if they fail to pay the compensation. Activist-politician Sadaf Jafar, who is among those whose photos appear on the posters, has termed the move "unethical" and vowed to take legal recourse.

High Court pulls up Yogi govt

On Sunday, the Allahabad High Court pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for featuring names with photographs of those accused of violence during anti-CAA protests. Calling it a 'violation of privacy' of a person, Lawyer KK Ray said, "Chief Justice observes that photographs placed on hoardings are a violation of privacy and honour of a person." "The court observed that the government could do something to rectify it," he further said.

"The matter will be heard at 3 PM today (Sunday). The court has regarded it as a serious matter. There are different ways of doing recovery legally but no one has the right to defame anyone," said another lawyer Arvind Pandey. Taking suo moto cognizance of the matter, the High Court t had decided to hear the case on Sunday in spite of it being a holiday. The court of Chief Justice Govind Mathur has summoned the District Magistrate and Divisional Police Commissioner of Police of Lucknow in this case. On Thursday, the district administration installed hoardings with photos and addresses of 53 anti-CAA protesters at prominent crossings across the city.

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(With PTI inputs)