Akhilesh Yadav prevented from visiting Allahabad; CM Yogi says SP should refrain from its anarchist activities

Yadav tweeted photographs in which he was seen talking to police officers inside the airport.

Yadav had to attend an oath-taking ceremony at Allahabad university.

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday alleged he was being stopped at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow by Yogi government. He said that this was done in a bid to prevent him from visiting Allahabad to attend an oath-taking ceremony at Allahabad University. Samajwadi Party members were seen protesting at the Lucknow airport and the Allahabad Central University. On Twitter, Akhilesh said "The government is so afraid of oath ceremony of a student leader that it is stopping me at the airport to prevent me from visiting Allahabad,". He tweeted photographs in which he was seen talking to police officers inside the airport. He interacted with media at the party office on Vikramaditya Marg after failing to board a chartered flight, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the ruling BJP had deliberately precipitated the crisis out of fear that he would further expose the state and the Central governments. "I had informed the university about my programme in December last year. A letter was sent to the district administration on February 2 as I did not want any inconvenience during the ongoing Kumbh. But I was not informed about the problems that the government is now citing," he was quoted by IANS. He also accused the government of putting his "house under surveillance, plotting blasts near the event venue in Allahabad and burning down the office of the students union president". "When all this failed to create apprehension of disruption to law and order, they stopped me to board the Prayagraj-bound flight," he said. On the issue, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that the SP should refrain from its anarchist activities. He further added “Allahabad University requested that Akhilesh Yadav’s visit may create law and order problem because of the dispute between student organisations. Hence the government took this step.” News agency ANI reported that Allahabad University Registrar had yesterday written to Personal Secretary of Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, informing him that politicians are not allowed in university programmes.

Allahabad University Registrar had yesterday written to Personal Secretary of Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, informing him that politicians are not allowed in university programmes. pic.twitter.com/q0dawWB8kp

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 12, 2019

Rajya Sabha proceedings were also adjourned till 2 PM following an uproar by Samajwadi Party members. Trouble started after as many as 15 members made zero hour mention on issues of public importance. SP members were up on their feet trying to raise their issue but nothing could be heard and Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu ordered that nothing would go on record. When asked, the airport director AK Sharma said, "He had no such information". Yadav also received a slice of support from Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who called the incident "another example of BJP’s dictatorial attitude." "Spoke to Akhilesh ji. We strongly condemn BJP’s conduct. This is yet another example of BJP’s dictatorial attitude," Kejriwal said on Twitter. Akhilesh Yadav in a press statement said: “Let me explain the remote control politics of two and a half men. Today, I was stopped from boarding a flight to Allahabad to attend a student union program. I haven’t been given a reason why — but it seems the general impression was that I would create a law and order problem. The Chief Minister has given a statement to this effect but they are using this as a cover to hide their nervousness because our youth have had enough. If there was a genuine problem, the police there would have objected, or asked for a change in my schedule. I understand the need to ensure the safety of people and property and would never do something to endanger either knowingly. But, to be stopped from speaking, from asking questions that are on everyone’s lips — to be prevented from engaging with the youth is just another clear sign of how scared the government is. They have lost Uttar Pradesh, but more than an election, they have lost the faith that the youth of this country reposed in them. They have betrayed the aspirations and hopes of crores of young people in their blind pursuit of creating a monochrome India. Their attack on institutions by filling them with people whose loyalties lie with an organisation that harbours people who celebrate the Mahatma’s murderer, is an attack on our democracy. These are people who have taken two oaths but are only loyal to one. These are people who have never accepted or celebrated our constitution. This is what I hear from the youth - “We are awake. We are aware. And we will never again be fooled by rhetoric that is designed to divide and conquer.” I stand with the youth of Uttar Pradesh and this country, and they stand with me. Today, I ask everyone to come forward and join hands — not to win an election — but to defeat, and forever stand vigilant against, an ideology that threatens to unravel the beautiful tapestry of our country.”