Uttar Pradesh lekhpals protest anti-corruption crackdown, demand protection from false complaints

Scores of village accountants, known as lekhpals, staged a protest in Shravasti district on Tuesday against recent anti-corruption action, boycotting the weekly Samadhan Diwas grievance redressal programme and demanding protection from what they call false traps and malicious complaints. Dozens of lekhpals gathered at Jamunahaa to hold a sit-in demonstration, voicing their opposition to the state government's crackdown on corruption in the revenue department.

The Lekhpal Sangh submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, alleging that one-sided action is being taken against revenue officials without proper investigation. The union accused anti-corruption authorities of conducting arbitrary raids and registering cases based on unverified complaints, claiming that many lekhpals are being targeted unfairly without being given a chance to present their side of the story.

Union representatives demanded an immediate halt to what they described as false entrapment operations and vindictive complaints lodged against lekhpals by disgruntled parties. They argued that the current system allows anyone to file a corruption complaint without sufficient evidence, leading to the harassment of honest officials and damaging their reputation in their communities.

The protesting lekhpals warned that if their demands are not met promptly, they will launch a statewide agitation. The Lekhpal Sangh has indicated that the movement could escalate and disrupt revenue administration work across Uttar Pradesh if the government does not address their grievances.

The boycott of Samadhan Diwas, a programme designed to resolve citizen complaints at the police station level, marks a significant escalation in the standoff between revenue officials and the state administration. The protest highlights growing tensions between the government's anti-corruption drive and concerns among lower-level officials about procedural fairness and protection from false accusations.