Lucknow: Residents of Lucknow were seen removing and taking away flower pots from the roadsides shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city, sparking criticism and amusement after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
The footage shows individuals picking up ornamental pots that had been placed as part of beautification efforts along the route travelled by the prime minister’s convoy. The pots, set up by municipal workers ahead of the high-profile visit, appeared to be unattended once the convoy moved on, and several locals were seen lifting them and carrying them off.
The video quickly gained attention online, with many users questioning the conduct of the people featured and raising broader concerns about civic sense and respect for public property. Comments ranged from mocking the act to highlighting the lack of accountability in safeguarding infrastructure put in place for official visits.
Officials of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation said teams had been deployed earlier to decorate and clean the city ahead of the prime minister’s arrival, placing flower pots and other decorative items along key thoroughfares. However, once the official movement concluded, the temporary installations were left in place, creating an opportunity some locals seized.
Reactions on social media were mixed. Some users expressed disappointment over the apparent disregard for public assets, arguing that the flower pots were bought with taxpayer funds and should not be treated as free giveaways. Others shared the video with humorous captions, focusing on the irony of the situation.
Local residents interviewed near the site offered differing perspectives. A few admitted to taking the pots, saying they wanted them for personal use at their homes, while others defended the act as harmless and insisted there was no ill intent.
Municipal officials did not confirm whether any action would be taken against those seen in the video, but said they were reviewing the footage and assessing what steps, if any, could be taken to discourage similar behaviour in future.
The incident has drawn attention to challenges in maintaining public property and raised debates about civic responsibility in the aftermath of official events.
