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Neo-Gandhians use novel way to protest

Lucknow: `Lage Raho Munnabhai' style `Gandhigiri' once again came to the fore as a group of residents in the Uttar Pradesh Capital on Monday morning used it to protest the district administration's decision against allowing them to hold a `jagran' in front of a liquor shop.

The group of over 150 people, including women, reached the CSI Towers residence of the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Randeep Bharnwal to protest his decision of not allowing them to hold the `jagran'. They claimed that Bharnwal had earlier allowed them to hold the `jagran', which was to be held on Sunday night.

The group gathered outside the SDM's house singing `Raghupati Raghav Rajaram...' and used 60 kg of flowers to deck up the road leading to his house.

Interestingly, the same group had reached the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court here on September 20 and distributed a memorandum and roses to judges, lawyers and passers-by.

They claimed that the liquor shop, located in front of a small temple, should be removed. The matter is sub-judice. The group had also reached the collectorate, the DM's office and Excise directorate to distribute memorandum and roses.

The group finally entered the model wine shop and distributed flowers to employees and customers.

While they did not indulge in vandalism, police detained them after the shop owner lodged a complaint. They were later let off after the two sides reached an "understanding".

Reacting to this morning's protest, a district administration official said since the matter was sub-judice, people should not use "Gandhigiri" to build pressure on government officials.

On Sunday, wearing Gandhi caps and white aprons, a group of King Geore Medical University (KGMU) students had carried out a plantation drive near the campus. They later cleaned the roads leading to the University campus. -- UNI

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