A Samajwadi Party delegation led by Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey was stopped by police from going to Bareilly, which cited the sensitive situation prevailing there due to the violence that occurred last week over the 'I Love Muhammad' row. The party had announced that it would send a delegation to take stock of the situation. But LoP Pandey, 83, the senior most leader in the Assembly, was not allowed to leave his house by the Lucknow Police, which served him the letter from Bareilly District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Singh. Pandey was initially served a notice issued by the SHO of the local PGI police station in Lucknow. He, however, refused to follow the notice, stating that it should have been from the DM. The Bareilly DM’s letter was later handed over to him. Speaking to The Indian Express, Pandey said, “A 14-member delegation comprising party MPs were to reach Bareilly today since we had been receiving phone calls and messages that. innocent people were being sent to jail. Our intention was to get to the truth and help those in need.” “The MPs had left from Delhi, but were stopped from leaving their homes in their constituencies. I had to leave Lucknow at 8 am today. I reached my home in the PGI area last night from my constituency in Siddharthnagar and found policemen deployed outside my house. A sub-inspector handed over a notice issued by the local SHO, stating that I was not allowed to go to Bareilly as it would disturb the law and order situation. How can a sub inspector serve me such a preventive order? This morning, the police handed me a letter from the Bareilly DM. This letter cited preventive orders in force in the district. and stated that my visit may escalate the situation and disturb law and order. Therefore, the DM letter asked me to stay home,” Pandey said. Taking a dig at the ruling party, the LoP further said, “What can be expected from such a system when the Chief Minister of the state himself says ‘me inko sabak sikhaunga (I will teach them a lesson)’.” “The preventive orders are in force in the district, but not beyond its borders. They should have stopped us at the borders of the district, not at our homes. The policemen are not even allowing me to go to the party office in Lucknow,” the LoP added. Hitting back at the SP, UP deputy chief minister and BJP leader Keshav Prasad Maurya wrote on X: “Sending a delegation to Bareilly by SP chief Shri Akhilesh Yadav is a childish step. The SP is known for its dirty politics of Muslim appeasement. The SP’s downfall and wipeout in the 2027 assembly elections are certain. A riot-free UP, good governance, and law and order are our identity and achievement. This is exactly what the SP supporters cannot stomach.” UP Minister J P S Rathore also alleged: “Who are they going to Bareilly for? For those who broke the law, pelted stones, and attacked the police? Anyone chanting ‘Sar tan se juda (beheading)’ will face strict legal action.” He claimed that no innocent person was harmed, but who violated the law were sent to jail. Earlier this week, Congress MP from Saharanpur, Imran Masood, claimed he was placed under house arrest ahead of his visit to Bareilly. Saharanpur police had denied the claim, saying they deployed personnel around the MP’s house and that of SP MLC Shahnawaz Khan following law and order inputs. Saharanpur (City) SP, Vyom Bindal, had said, “We have not put him under house arrest but have just deployed our forces.” The violence broke out after police stopped people carrying “I Love Muhammad” placards from assembling after Friday prayers on September 26. While most dispersed, some in the crowd allegedly hurled stones, raised slogans, and opened fire. Police had arrested Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) president Maulana Tauqeer Raza, who they called the “main conspirator” behind the clashes, on September 27. Over the past week, 10 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence. Police said 200 people have been named among 2,500 accused, with 82 sent to jail so far - of which at least three people were arrested in shootouts, including Tauqeer’s close aides.
