Akhilesh prevented from flying; SP men outraged

This is work of the Centre. I think government at the Centre is also involved in stopping me.

— AKHILESH YADAV,

Lucknow, Feb. 12: Samajwadi Party workers clashed with police in several parts of Uttar Pradesh Tuesday after the state government clipped the wings of their president Akhilesh Yadav, preventing him from flying to Allahabad on the grounds of law and order.

Protests broke out in Allahabad, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Kannauj, Balrampur, Jalaun, Azamgarh and Gorakhpur, among other places, where SP supporters smashed windscreens of vehicles and clashed with the police.

Roads were blocked in Gorakhpur. Mr Yadav said he was stopped by authorities at the Lucknow airport in a bid to prevent him from visiting Allahabad, triggering outrage by party lawmakers in the state legislature and workers outside the airport.

The issue rocked the Rajya Sabha as SP and other opposition parties protested over the incident, disrupting the proceedings of the House.

The matter also caused an uproar in both Houses of the Uttar Pradesh legislature.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath told reporters that Yadav’s visit could have triggered violence between rival student groups at the university.

“The Allahabad University had urged the government to stop his visit and the government acted,” he said. As soon as Samajwadi members came to know that Yadav was stopped at the airport, they raised the matter during the Question Hour in the assembly.

“The present regime is trying to kill democracy and stop our leader from visiting Allahabad,” party leader Narendra Verma alleged. The members also trooped into the Well of the House, prompting Speaker Hriday Narain Dixit to adjourn proceedings for 20 minutes.

It was later extended for the entire Question Hour and then for the day.

Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said the university administration did not permit any political programme on the campus fearing breach of peace. “The administration had intimated the ex-CM’s office and Lucknow DM about the university decision,” he said.

SP chief