Lucknow/Bareilly — In the ongoing political tension surrounding the September 26 Bareilly unrest, leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were placed under house arrest by the Uttar Pradesh police on Tuesday as they attempted to travel from Lucknow to Bareilly. The move drew sharp criticism from AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who accused the state government of denying democratic rights.
AAP leaders Sarbjit Makkar and Nadeem Ashraf were reportedly placed under house arrest, while Imran Latif was stopped at the party office in Gomtinagar, where police presence remained constant. Similar actions were reported in Ghaziabad, where an AAP leader was also detained.
Addressing the situation, Sanjay Singh said, “In Uttar Pradesh, even raising a democratic voice is being curtailed. Our leaders are not being allowed to meet the victims in Bareilly. There is neither proper order nor law. Hate and hooliganism are being allowed to flourish.”
Singh listed several leaders who were prevented from traveling without any official order, including Imran Latif (Buddhist Region President), Vinay Patel (Ayodhya Region President), Abhishek Singh, and Vanshraj Dubey.
The unrest in Bareilly on September 26 was triggered by a protest called by IMC President Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan after Friday prayers. The demonstration turned violent, leading to police action with batons and resulting in the detention of around 90 protesters and party leaders/supporters. Ongoing measures include targeting homes and businesses of leaders and supporters, with authorities like the BDA and municipal corporation taking action based on investigations.
Earlier, the Samajwadi Party had attempted to send a 14-member delegation led by Leader of the Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey to Bareilly, but members were placed under house arrest or stopped en route. Now, AAP’s delegation has faced similar restrictions, further escalating tensions between political parties and the state administration.
The incident highlights growing concerns over political freedoms and law enforcement practices in Uttar Pradesh ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
