By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party (SP) has decried the arresting of its party leaders including leader of opposition Shivpal Yadav and Ahmed Hasan while they were enroute to violence hit Bareilly on Thursday. Castigating the state government the party alleged that administration had detained their leaders to hide their failure and atrocities in Bareilly.
Earlier, leader of opposition Shivpal Yadav along with MLCs Ram Naresh Yadav, Dayaram Prajapati and Darshan Singh were stopped by police in Etawah on their way to Bareilly. However when they proceeded the leaders were detained in Farrukhabad and later sent to Fatehgarh.
In Lucknow leader of opposition in Vidhan Parishad Ahmed Hasan and MLC Rakesh Singh Rana were stopped by police in Malihabad on their way to Bareilly. Later they were shifted from Malihabad guest house to police lines for security reasons. Several party workers as district president Ashok Yadav and general secretary Mohd Ebad too reached the police lines. The leaders were later released at around 4:15 pm.
Reacting to the developments the party castigated the state government for the arresting of their leaders. “The chief minister Mayawati has imposed an undeclared curfew in whole state. No one is free to move to understand the reality and meet the people. The administration is using draconian means to restrict freedom of movement for the political leaders,” said Rajendra Choudhary, state spokesperson of the party.
The party alleged that people in Bareilly are in house arrest thus shortage of milk for children and elderly is taking its toll. Chief Minister Mayawati on the other hand is least concerned about the plight of denizens in the state. “The violence could have been averted if the administration had acted judiciously and not allowed any change in the procession route on March 2,” said a party leader.
Earlier, violence had engulfed Bareilly over change in route of Barawafat procession by some anjumans. The procession which was earlier sceduled on February 27 was postponed to March 2 by the district administration.
Life limped back to normal in curfew hit Bareilly town on Thursday. Administration had relaxed the curfew from 6 am- 5 pm and no untoward incident was reported. District officials informed that board examinations were held at all examination centres without any hindrance. The examinees had no problem in reaching to the centres.
Meanwhile in a confidence building exercise police organised a peace meeting at Kotwali premises. The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner and IG Bareilly zone besides dignatories from the Bareilly town. Later after deliberations it was decided to relax the curfew in Qila, Baradari, Prem Nagar and sadar Kotwali circles. Night curfew will however continue. Police officials informed that total 59 persons have been arrested in the violence.
Over 50 people have been arrested and charged with violence and destruction of property.
[Photo by tribuneindia]