Rajasthan: BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, Others Detained On Way To Visit Violence-Hit Karauli

While lashing out at Congress-led Rajasthan government, Surya said that Section 144 is not in place where he was and it was his constitutional right to go to visit the violence-hit city.

Jaipur: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Yuva Morcha national president and Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya was detained by Rajasthan Police on Wednesday along with several other party workers who were on their way to visit the violence-hit Karauli district.

According to reports, Survya was accompanied by Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia and several supporters when police stopped them at Hindaun-Mahua. The BJP leaders were on their way to meet the victims of violence in Karauli on April 2. 

After being stopped, Surya along with other BJP leaders and supporters sat on a protest at the border. The police later detained Surya, Poonia and other BJP workers.

"As they kept demanding that they be allowed to enter Karauli, they were taken into a bus and dispersed," police said.

While lashing out at the Congress-led Rajasthan government for not letting them visit Karauli, Surya said that Section 144 is not in place where he was and it was his constitutional right to go to visit the violence-hit city.

"This dictatorial govt is snatching our rights, which is why we are protesting," he told reporters at the Mahua border.

"Karauli riots indicate clear lawlessness in Rajasthan. The deliberate attempt to disturb Ram Navami shobha yatra & the unwillingness of Congress govt to act against the aggressors is deplorable," Surya had tweeted earlier.

Surya had even tweeted a picture announcing his visit and calling for people to reach there. 

Reacting to the incident, BJP leader Rajyavardhan Rathore, who is currently in Jaipur, said that Rajasthan is burning.

"On one hand, Sec 144 is being imposed wherever Ram Navami processions are being taken out. It means there's already a mindset that this is Hindu community and it will do rioting. How is this happening in Rajasthan?" he asked.

Communal clashes erupted in Karauli following an alleged stone-pelting at a bike rally oassing through a Muslim-dominated area on the occasion of Nav Samvastar (Hindi New Year) on April 2.

Over 30 people were injured in the violence which included arson of shops and vehicles. According to reports, the city continues to be under curfew.