"What kind of dictatorship is this...": AAP's Sanjay Singh on UP government stopping political leaders from going to Sambhal

Dec 04, 2024

New Delhi [India], December 4 : Aam Admi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh on Wednesday slammed Uttar Pradesh government for stopping opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi from visiting violence-hit Sambhal.
"The police is killing people but no one can go to meet the bereaved families and offer condolences. What kind of dictatorship is this? Whenever any such incidents took place, the administration will not allow you to meet with anyone. If a cop is killed, you would not be allowed to meet with his kin," he told ANI.
Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress leaders, were stopped by the police at the Ghazipur border while attempting to proceed to Sambhal. They eventually returned to Delhi.
"We are trying to go to Sambhal, but the police are refusing to allow us. As Leader of the Opposition, it is my right to visit, yet they are stopping me. I am ready to go alone or even under police escort, but they have rejected that as well. They claim we can return in a few days, but this violates the rights of the Leader of the Opposition and the Constitution. We simply want to visit Sambhal, meet the people, and understand what has happened. Denying this right reflects the state of 'New India,' an India undermining the Constitution and Ambedkar's vision. We will continue to fight," Rahul Gandhi said.
Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had on Saturday lashed out at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh over party leaders not being able to visit Sambhal, which had seen violence, and said that imposing restrictions "is a failure" of administration.
He said restrictions should have been imposed on those who incited violence and raised provocative slogans .
"Imposing restrictions is a failure of the BJP government's governance, administration and its management. If the government had earlier restricted those who dreamed of causing riots and made people raise frenzied slogans, then the atmosphere of harmony and peace in Sambhal would not have been spoiled," Akhilesh Yadav posted on X.
Yadav also said that strict action should be taken against officials of Sambhal administration.
"Just like BJP changes the entire cabinet, the entire administration in Sambhal from top to bottom should be suspended over allegations of negligence. Cases should be filed for murder...The BJP has been defeated," the former UP Chief Minister added.
Samajwadi Party leader Mata Prasad Pandey on said on Saturday that Sambhal District Magistrate called him over the phone and asked him not to visit the district.
Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday hit out at the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government as he raised the Sambhal incident in Lok Sabha.
The SP chief accused the state administration of orchestrating a "well-planned" conspiracy to divert attention from the state bypolls and said a "murder case" should be registered against the officials in the wake of violence.