Lucknow Police commissioner on Friday said that an FIR has been registered against more than 2,000 leaders of the Samajwadi Party (SP) for flouting COVID-19 protocols as hundreds turned out at a virtual rally.

According to the police, no permission was taken for the event. However, none of the accused has been named in the FIR.

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“We’ve taken cognizance of the matter; found a violation of Model Code of Conduct and COVID-19 protocols. We’ve registered an FIR in the matter,” said Lucknow DM Abhishek Prakash.

On Friday, Samajwadi Party held a virtual rally in Lucknow. However, hundreds of party workers and supporters gathered at the party office flouting the COVID protocol. The rally was addressed by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and former UP minister Swami Prasad Maurya who along with his supporters joined the party today.

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SP party state chief Naresh Uttam Patel stressed that people at the rally were following the COVID protocol and hit back at BJP saying that the crowd can even be seen at BJP ministers’ doorsteps and in markets.

“It was a virtual event inside our party office. We didn’t call anyone but people came. People are working abiding by COVID protocols. The crowd there even at BJP ministers’ doorsteps and in markets, but they have a problem with us,” Patel said.

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A team of Lucknow Police later visited the party office claiming violation of the COVID protocols along with the breach of the Model Code of Conduct of the Election Commission of India.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had prevented the political parties from campaigning physically till January 14 amid the surge in COVID-19 cases due to the new omicron variant.

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Uttar Pradesh will go to poll in seven phases to elect 403 MLAs between February 10 and March 7. The counting of votes will be held on March 10.