Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, several people were seen taking away flower pots that had been used to decorate the venue. Videos of people loading the pots into cars, bikes, and other vehicles were recorded by passersby and later shared on social media. The clips quickly went viral, with many users calling the act theft and damage to public property.

The incident reportedly happened just after the inauguration ceremony ended and the Prime Minister left the venue. The green corridor created for the event was decorated with hundreds of flower pots, which were meant to enhance the look of the memorial during the programme. However, instead of being removed by authorities, the pots were allegedly taken away by members of the public.

Many social media users criticised the incident, saying it showed a lack of civic sense. Several people pointed out that the decorations were funded by public money and were meant for public spaces. Some users also claimed that individuals carrying BJP flags were seen taking the flower pots, accusing them of vandalism and misuse of government property.

At the same time, others defended Prime Minister Modi and said he should not be blamed for the incident. Supporters argued that the Prime Minister did not ask for the decorations and had no role in what happened after the event. They questioned why the local administration failed to secure the venue and remove the decorative items in time.

The incident has sparked a wider debate online about public responsibility and the handling of government-funded decorations at large political events.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal in Lucknow on the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The memorial was opened to honour Vajpayee’s life, values, and contribution to Indian politics. Vajpayee was a senior BJP leader and one of the country’s most respected prime ministers.

Spread across 65 acres, the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal is dedicated to leaders such as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The memorial complex is designed in the shape of a lotus, which is also the election symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party.