Babbar meets Cong MLA jailed for protesting mining lease
GORAKHPUR: Congress state president Raj Babbar on Tuesday visited Deoria district jail to meet party MLA Ajay Kumar Lallu, who along with his 19 supporters was arrested and sent to jail on April 7.
He was booked on charges of disruption of peace, rioting and creating obstacles in government work while he was staging a protest demanding cancellation of mining lease near a dam in his constituency in Tamkuhiraj of Kushinagar.
Congress state president, who had warned of statewide stir to protest action against Lallu, spoke to media after meeting him in jail
“The Congress leaders, who raise voice of people in democratic ways, are being targeted and harassed by the government. The Congress party won’t sit idle and will fight against such injustice,” said Babbar.
Lallu, a three-time MLA, had been leading a protest against the allotment of lease for mining near AP Dam in Kushinagar.
He has alleged that mining near a dam, which protects a population of over 30,000, could put thousands of lives in danger by weakening the dam.
The MLA had questioned the role of administration in giving permission for mining.
He had been staging the protest since last two months and was arrested on April 7 after leaseholder Awadhesh Singh lodged a complaint against him.
Lallu and 19 others were booked under serious charges, including disruption of peace, rioting and creating obstacles in government work. Till the report last came in, other protesters mainly women and children continued their sit in even after Lallu’s arrest.