Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders and workers clashed with police in Lucknow on February 17, 2026. They were protesting against the BJP government over issues like the undermining of MGNREGA, demolition of heritage sites like Dal Mandi in Varanasi, corruption, and law and order breakdown in the state. The police stopped the protest near the state Congress office and did not allow it to reach the Vidhan Sabha. Protestors, including State Congress president Ajay Rai, were detained for several hours and taken to Eco Garden. Ajay Rai called the police action "a black day for democracy". He said, "Our workers who were protesting peacefully were brutally beaten, their hands and legs were broken, and the way the police administration treated our women workers is unforgivable." Rai also said he was injured in the police attack. He warned, "The bloodshed of each of our workers and the disrespect shown to women will mark the beginning of the BJP’s end." Rai promised to continue the fight against "people-centric issues" such as the undermining of MGNREGA, heritage demolitions, corruption, and lawlessness. He said, "The police of the BJP government have tried to suppress our voice by forcibly making us all sit in the Eco Garden, but our spirit is not going to break." Barricades surrounded the Congress State headquarters since the evening of February 16. Many party leaders and workers were placed under house arrest across the state to prevent them from reaching Lucknow. Senior Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari said, "Our planned protest was forcefully stopped by the administration. Thousands of Congress workers were detained. The authorities used unnecessary force on peaceful protestors. But the BJP won’t be able to intimidate the brave Congress workers." He added, "The enthusiasm of Congress on the roads of Lucknow showed that the era of our party is back. Our brave workers neither fear bullets nor police. Stop violating the rights of rural population of India."