Mulayam to raise house arrest issue in parliament
Lucknow, March 7 (IANS) Samajwadi Party (SP) president Mulayam Singh Yadav, before leaving for New Delhi, said he and his son Akhilesh were put under house arrest ahead of his party’s protests against Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and he would raise the issue in parliament. The administration, however, denied any such move.
Charging the Uttar Pradesh government with breach of privilege by imposing restrictions on him, Mulayam Singh told reporters, ‘I will definitely raise the issue pertaining to the autocratic functioning of the state government by imposing restrictions on my movement.’
He claimed the restrictions were removed only after he faxed a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, mentioning that under such circumstances he would not be able to attend parliament.
‘Besides the barricades that were put up in front of my residence, PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) was also deployed at my door to prevent me from moving outside,’ Mulayam Singh said before leaving for New Delhi along with his son.
Earlier SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary had told reporters here: ‘Both of them (Mulayam and son Akhilesh) have been put under house arrest at the behest of the state government that wants to gag every voice against its misrule.’
However, Lucknow District Magistrate Anil Sagar claimed charges pertaining to the house arrest were baseless.
‘No one was put under house arrest. It’s true that heavy security arrangements were made, but the passage was not blocked completely,’ Sagar told reporters.
‘I have no idea about the letter which the leader claims to have faxed to the Lok Sabha speaker,’ he added.
Starting a three-day protest Monday, SP activists across the state took to the streets, demonstrating against the BSP government.
‘During the three days we will protest against the misrule and corrupt practices of the Mayawati government. To suppress our agitation the government is making every effort, but we will continue our fight,’ Chaudhary said.