There was an uproar over the MNREGA Bachao Andolan in Varanasi. Police lathicharged the students and arrested NSUI President Varun Choudhary. In this entire matter, the National Students Union of India says that the MNREGA Bachao Sangram March was proposed from Banaras Hindu University, Lanka Gate to the Prime Minister's Office. The march was taking place in a completely peaceful and democratic manner.
During this, the police brutalized the students and workers of NSUI. Lathicharged on them. During this period, about 100 students and workers were injured. After this NSUI national president Varun Chaudhary was arrested.
NSUI alleges that since yesterday, hostels and student residences were being raided by the police in Varanasi and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Many students were placed under house arrest, while others were forcibly taken to police stations, creating an atmosphere of fear and repression. Modi-Yogi government and police machinery together have turned the state into an undeclared emergency. Despite this, hundreds of workers including the National President of NSUI participated in this peaceful march.
Today a peaceful student movement was lathicharged, students were brutally beaten and NSUI National President Shri Varun Choudhary was arrested.
This repression clearly shows that the powers that be are now afraid of truth and questions.
Yogi – Modi government should listen with open ears, on the streets in response to every lathi pic.twitter.com/ssVyptgPdJ– Ajay Rai
(@kashikirai) January 11, 2026
NSUI National President Varun Chaudhary said that MNREGA is not just a government scheme. This is a question of lifeline and survival for the Bahujan community of India. In Varanasi, the Prime Minister's own Lok Sabha seat, the Modi government chose the path of lathicharge and repression in response to peaceful protests on MNREGA.
Choudhary said that this exposes the government's fear of legitimate voices of students, youth and marginalized society. It is absolutely clear that no lathi, no arrest and no repression can suppress the voice of the tribal, Dalit and Bahujan communities. I am steadfast in this struggle. The message to dictators is that wherever injustice takes root, our resistance will arise from there and revolution will be written.
NSUI says that it strongly condemns this unconstitutional police brutality and reiterates its resolve to further intensify the nationwide movement to protect MNREGA and the constitutional right to employment.
