Gonda: Thousands of Samajwadi Party (SP) workers, led by party leader Suraj Singh, staged a “Jan Akrosh Padyatra” (Public Outrage March) in Gonda on Monday, demanding action on a range of public issues and submitting a 22-point memorandum to District Magistrate Priyanka Niranjan.
Organised following directions from the party’s central leadership, the march began near Kotwali Nagar, where party workers gathered before setting off from a private hotel. Carrying the national tricolour and Samajwadi Party flags, participants marched through the city accompanied by music and raised slogans against the state government before reaching the Collectorate.
The memorandum highlighted several civic and public welfare concerns, including the shortage of fertilisers, rising LPG cylinder prices, urban waterlogging, electricity supply issues, dilapidated transformers, alleged police harassment, poor conditions in government hospitals, pending sugarcane dues from Bajaj Sugar Mill, sewerage problems, persistent traffic congestion in the city, and opposition to the demolition order concerning Johar University. The party also raised concerns over flood-induced riverbank erosion and sought financial assistance for affected residents.
During the demonstration, workers raised slogans such as “Chanda Chor Gaddi Chhod” (Leave the chair, donation thieves), “Save the dignity of education,” “Stop atrocities against every daughter,” and “End paper leaks and take action against the mafia.”
Addressing supporters, Suraj Singh alleged that farmers were struggling due to shortages of fertilisers, electricity-related problems and rising household expenses, while pending sugarcane payments had added to their hardships. He also criticised the functioning of government hospitals and alleged that ordinary citizens were facing harassment.
Referring to the reported donation-related controversy, Singh accused those claiming credit for bringing Lord Ram of failing to provide transparency regarding alleged financial irregularities. He also asserted that any cases allegedly filed against Samajwadi Party workers for political reasons would be reviewed if the party returned to power.
Among those present at the protest were SP District President Arshad Hussain, former MLC Ranvijay Singh, former MLC Mahfooz Khan, and several other party leaders and workers, who called for political change while reiterating their demands for improved public services and administrative accountability.
