Scores of Congress leaders and workers led by Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC)  chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi were today detained for defying prohibitory orders as they tried to march towards the assembly building here protesting the "spurt" in crimes in UP, a day after the party was denied permission for the demonstration by the Mayawati government.

"This is a coward government which itself has violated law. We will continue to struggle on the issue of atrocities against women and deteriorating law and order situation," Joshi told reporters as she was detained by the police.

"We have violated Section 144. If the government has courage, let them arrest us and send us to jail," she said.

Tight security arrangements were made by the authorities which had denied permission for the march to the Congress, which is locked in a political battle with chief minister Mayawati, citing fears of breach of peace and inconvenience to residents due to traffic disruptions.

The party moved a fresh application seeking permission for the march last night, but that too was turned down by the administration.

The Congress, which along with other opposition parties has mounted attack on Mayawati over the recent rise in rape cases and the mysterious death of deputy CMO Y S Sachan, a murder suspect, in Lucknow jail hospital, organised a meeting at Bal Sanghralaya ground as planned.

"Women and girls are not safe in Uttar Pradesh and several rape cases had been reported in the last six months," Joshi said while addressing the meeting.

On Joshi's call, the party workers came out of the ground and attempted to march towards the Vidhan Bhawan defying prohibitory orders, but they were intercepted near KKC trisection where a heavy police posse was present.

After minor scuffles with party workers, who attempted to force their way through barricades, police detained scores of protesters including senior Congress functionaries.