SP sees opportunity to take on BJP as UP turns battleground

Thousands of students took to the streets in Lucknow on Thursday (December 19) against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The protesters began their march from Hazratganj market to converge at Parivartan Chowk, where they were joined by Congress workers. The old city witnessed violence with protesters setting ablaze police posts in Madayganj and Satkhanda.

Several vehicles were also set afire. Incidents of arson and violence were also reported from Khadra area of the old city. Police have arrested over 50 persons so far.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party staged protests in Gorakhpur, Maharajgang, Deoria, Siddharth Nagar and Basti districts.

With 19.3% Muslims in the state, the Citizenship Amendment Act has turned into an emotive issue in the state.

Akhilesh smells blood

Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) took a political colour in the Hindi-heartland of Uttar Pradesh. Out of power for seven years and a claimant of the ‘minority’ votes, the Samajwadi Party launched a state-wide agitation against the controversial Act on Thursday.

Anti- Citizenship Amendment Act protests seems like an issue offered to the Samajwadi Party on a platter by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s to take up the issue seems to be based on a two-pronged strategy.

Firstly, the issue provides fodder to attack the Narendra Modi-led government in the Centre and the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh. Secondly, the contentious Act addressed its Muslim vote base, which had drifted towards the Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in all the elections since 2014.

Also read: Lucknow turns battleground as anti-CAA protesters clash with cops

Though most of the leaders of its frontal organisations like the Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha, Lohia Vahini, Samajwadi Youth Brigade and Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha were placed under house arrest since Wednesday evening, a few managed to give cops a slip and led the agitation from the front.

UP’s ex-CM Akhilesh Yadav and his aides seem to have jumped on the opportunity to take on the BJP. This is mainly because the Congress is still keeping its cards close to its chest and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is not known for hitting the road with agitations. A BSP delegation including its national secretary Satish Mishra and its parliamentary party leader Danish Ali met President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday and handed over a memorandum against the Act. Earlier, a statement issued by BSP chief Mayawati said, “Our party will also raise our voices in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, against CAA 2019, and crimes against women.”