Ghaziabad, Oct. 25 -- The cancellation of a bicycle distribution programme for underprivileged girl students in Loni triggered a political controversy on Sunday, with Samajwadi Party leader Anuj Pradhan accusing the local administration of deliberately obstructing the initiative. The row escalated after SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that BJP workers had used a bulldozer to remove arrangements at the venue and announced a "cycle satyagraha" if the programme continued to be blocked.
In a post on social media, Akhilesh alleged that the BJP was opposed to education and students. He claimed that party workers had a bulldozer deployed at the venue of a programme organised by PDA Samaj leaders in Ghaziabad to distribute bicycles to 1,000 meritorious students who had scored 75 per cent or more in Classes 10 and 12.
"The committed PDA sentinels are still determined to distribute bicycles. If the 'PDA bicycle distribution ceremony' is stopped again, they will undertake a 'cycle satyagraha' and distribute bicycles by going door to door," Akhilesh said.
He also accused the BJP of harbouring patriarchal and regressive attitudes towards women, alleging that its opposition to the PDA initiative became more pronounced because it involved women. He termed the alleged obstruction "highly condemnable".
The controversy erupted after a bicycle distribution programme organised by Anuj Pradhan for economically disadvantaged girl students in rural areas could not take place on Sunday. The initiative was intended to help students commute to school. Organisers had collected the students' educational documents and prepared a list of beneficiaries. Several girls reached the venue to collect bicycles but had to return without them.
Pradhan alleged that he was made to sit at the assistant commissioner of police's office for nearly four hours and that a tent erected for the event was removed using a JCB machine. He accused the authorities of pressuring organisers to cancel the programme and warned that people would respond to the action in three months. However, a letter issued by Loni Municipal Council on October 24 stated that councillor Sumit Pradhan had sought permission to organise a PDA felicitation ceremony and bicycle distribution programme on October 25 on government land at Garhi Kataiya, designated as a playground. The letter alleged that preparations, including the installation of a tent and stage, were being undertaken without permission. The municipal council assessed a penalty of Rs 10,86,930 based on the applicable circle rate and directed the Khanna Nagar police outpost in-charge to stop the event.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.