“Sarkari Maal Samajhkar Le Gaye?”: Flower Pots Vanish From Lucknow Streets After PM Modi’s Visit, Civic Sense Questioned

Lucknow: Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his visit to Lucknow, an incident that many termed deeply embarrassing for the city administration began doing the rounds on social media. Areas that were specially beautified to welcome the Prime Minister suddenly turned into a symbol of poor civic responsibility, as decorative flower pots installed for the event were seen being taken away by people in public view.

Ahead of the inauguration of the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal, the Lucknow Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation had carried out extensive beautification drives across key routes such as Vasant Kunj Road and the Green Corridor. Rows of flower pots, hanging plants and temporary landscaping were put in place to give the city a green and orderly appearance. Public money and planning were used to ensure that Lucknow reflected development and discipline during the high-profile visit.

However, soon after the Prime Minister departed and security restrictions were eased, several videos emerged showing people lifting these flower pots and loading them onto bikes and cars. The visuals suggest that the acts took place openly, without fear or resistance, leaving bystanders shocked.

As the clips went viral, social media users reacted strongly, with many questioning the mindset behind treating public assets as personal property. Sarcastic remarks flooded comment sections, with users asking whether government property is meant to be “free for all” once an event ends.

The episode has triggered a wider debate on civic sense and accountability. While the city was temporarily transformed to project an image of cleanliness and order, the scenes that followed exposed a disconnect between appearances and public behaviour. Questions are also being raised about the lack of post-event monitoring and whether better planning could have prevented the incident.