Hans News Service Raebareli

SamajwadiParty MLAs staged a protest outside the Raebareli collectorate against the ruling BJP on Wednesday, alleging that local issues were being ignored by the district panchayat, ahead of a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (Disha) meeting attended by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

Gandhi, who is also the Congress MP from Raebareli, arrived at the collectorate around 11 am along with Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma for the meeting. District Magistrate Sarneet Kaur Broca welcomed them.

The two SP legislators Rahul Lodhi and Shyam Sundar Bhati arrived at the collectorate carrying placards and posters listing issues they wanted to highlight at the meeting. Their posters mentioned school closures, alleged encroachment by land mafias, false cases, problems faced by farmers, unemployment and poor basic amenities. Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Lodhi alleged that development work was not being carried out in the district and accused the BJP-led government of damaging children’s future.

“Most of the schools have been closed in my constituency, Harachandpur. Land is being encroached upon in the district, but there is no one to speak up. Every person and every section of society is troubled,” he alleged.