A protest march planned in Lucknow against the fabricated cases filed against folk singer Neha Singh Rathore and Professor Dr Madri Kakoti (popularly known as Dr Medusa) was organised on 3 May 2025 in front of Lucknow University. The protest, planned as a march to Parivartan Chowk under the banner of "Statewide Resistance Day", was thwarted when a large police contingent detained dozens before it could commence.
The protest was jointly organised by AISA, AIPWA, RYA, and Jan Sanskriti Manch (JSM), demanding the withdrawal of false FIRs lodged against Neha Singh Rathore and Dr Madri Kakoti — both targeted for speaking out in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and demanding justice.
The CPI(ML) strongly denounced the crackdown, calling it a brazen assault on democratic dissent and the right to protest. In a statement issued from its state office, the party termed the arrests "a deliberate attempt by the Yogi-Modi government to silence critical voices."
Sudhakar Yadav, State Secretary of CPI(ML), remarked, "The BJP government wants to lock the tongues of citizens to avoid accountability for its failure in the Pahalgam attack. Jammu and Kashmir’s security is under the direct control of the Centre. Despite the killing of 26 innocent civilians, no Union minister or official has been held accountable. Instead, those asking questions are being slapped with false criminal cases. Supporting such voices has become a crime."
Vice-President of AISA Uttar Pradesh, Samar Gautam, said, "Today’s arrests weren’t just about halting a protest — they were an attempt to crush all dissent. When tweets are labelled sedition and protests are treated as threats to law and order, you know democracy is on life support."
Kamla Gautam of AIPWA added, "The government thinks arrests will frighten us, but we are on the path of struggle. Whether in jail or on the streets, we will continue until the false cases against Neha and Madri are withdrawn."
"This is not the fight of a few individuals," stated Rajiv Gupta, Joint Secretary of RYA. "This is the fight of everyone who questions, teaches, sings, or thinks. The government is afraid of truth — but we are not afraid of it."
Jan Sanskriti Manch’s acting president, Kaushal Kishore, condemned the move, saying, "These arrests are more than political repression — they are attacks on culture, education, and humanity. The action against Madri and Neha exposes the brutality of this fascist period. Jan Sanskriti Manch stands firmly with every voice of resistance."
Shantam Nidhi, an AISA activist, added, "If you sing, you’re a traitor. If you teach, you’re called an extremist. If you ask questions, you're criminalised. This government fears thinking itself. But it forgets — when the people stop fearing, the regime begins to fall. Today’s repression has only made us stronger."
CPI(ML) has demanded that all fabricated charges against Dr Madri Kakoti and Neha Singh Rathore be immediately withdrawn.
