UP Congress Protests PM Modi's Varanasi Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Varanasi on September 11, 2025, has sparked a political stir in Uttar Pradesh, with the state's Congress chief Ajay Rai alleging he was placed under "house arrest" to curb planned protests against the Prime Minister's visit. Modi's visit, which includes a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Mauritius and the inauguration of several developmental projects, came amid heightened tensions as Congress leaders, led by Ajay Rai, planned demonstrations alleging vote theft by the ruling party.

In response, state authorities took preemptive security measures, detaining Rai and over a hundred Congress leaders to prevent protests, raising questions about democratic rights and political expression.

पुलिस भेजकर हमें रोकना, कार्यकर्ताओं की आवाज़ दबाना — ये लड़ाई को रोक नहीं पाएगा,ये वोट चोरों को बचा नहीं पाएगा।

कांग्रेस का हर बब्बर शेर कार्यकर्ता गली-गली,गांव गांव से विरोध करेगा और आवाज़ देगा —
“मोदी, वोट चोरी बंद करो!” ✊🇮🇳

📍लखनऊ pic.twitter.com/Hy0q4MAkOI— Ajay Rai🇮🇳 (@kashikirai) September 10, 2025

Ajay Rai posted a video on social media stating that police efforts to silence Congress workers and suppress dissent would not stop their fight against alleged electoral misconduct. He vowed that Congress workers across villages and streets would continue to raise their voices, calling for an end to what they termed "vote theft." The Congress has framed Rai's detention as authoritarian suppression of democratic dissent, warning of protests across the state in response. Meanwhile, the police maintain that placing Rai under house arrest and detaining leaders was a precautionary step to maintain law and order during the Prime Minister's visit. Similar measures were reportedly taken in neighboring districts, with other Congress leaders also detained to prevent planned protests.

The context for this confrontation includes recent political developments in Uttar Pradesh, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Raebareli faced opposition from BJP workers, and Rai blamed the state government for obstructing Gandhi's movement. This added fuel to the simmering political contest and set the stage for demonstrations during Modi's visit to his parliamentary constituency in Varanasi.

From a broader perspective, this incident highlights the complex interplay of security concerns, political rivalry, and democratic rights during high-profile political events in India. While ensuring the safety and smooth conduct of official visits is essential, opposition parties and their supporters argue that restricting protests and detaining leaders infringes on fundamental democratic freedoms of expression and assembly. The ongoing political contest in Uttar Pradesh serves as a reminder of how electoral politics can trigger intense confrontations that challenge the balance between governance and dissent.

In summary, Prime Minister Modi's September 2025 visit to Varanasi brought to the fore tensions between the ruling party and opposition Congress leaders. The preventive detentions of Congress's Ajay Rai and others before planned protests illustrate a contested political landscape where security measures are perceived by some as suppression of political rights. The situation underscores the delicate balance necessary in a vibrant democracy to manage political dissent without compromising public order.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies