An incident in Lucknow, the capital of UP ( the largest state in India ), has gone viral on the media these days, and is being widely discussed by the public.
Simran Gupta, a young woman of UP, earlier tried modelling as a career, and became Miss Gorakhpur ( her home town ). Later, that did not work out, and so she came to Lucknow and opened a tea stall in Lucknow called ‘Model Chai Waali’ to earn her living, by which she supports not only herself but also her aged parents and her brother. In that stall she sells tea with roses in it, and some food stuffs like maggi, sandwich, dosa, etc, which is doing good business.
Simran wears modern attire while selling her tea and snacks
But some UP personnel, including a woman constable, perhaps thinking she was using her sex appeal and wearing provocative attire for doing her business, and perhaps instigated by some business rivals, intervened, had a scuffle with her, dragged her, and beat her up. This incident has gone viral in the media
Simran said she works hard for her living, and does not beg. She also said that policemen often extort money from her, eat her foodstuffs and do not pay for it
Simran has asked the UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take strong action against the police personnel responsible for this outrage
The question arises whether UP is living in the modern age and in a democracy, or in the medieval age or under fascism ? Simran was only excercising her constitutional right under Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution which states :
” All citizens have the right to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business ”.
Simran is not a prostitute, nor does she sell tea etc in the nude or exposing parts of her body. She no doubt wears modern attire, but there is nothing illegal in that. It was therefore shocking and totally illegal for the police to have behaved in the outrageous manner that they did.
Yogi Adityanath is known for his taking strong action against hooligans in the state. Will he also take action against the hooligans in uniform ?
