A Samajwadi Party delegation led by Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey, was stopped by police as it prepared to leave for Bareilly. The 14-member team of SP MPs and MLAs had been directed by party chief Akhilesh Yadav to visit Bareilly, where tensions have been high post the 'I Love Muhammad' protests. Soon after the drama unfolded, BJP said the SP was being "childish" and indulging in "Muslim appeasement". VIDEO | Lucknow: Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey stopped by police while trying to leave from home for Bareilly. (Full video available on PTI Videos - ) pic.twitter.com/O74azfVIAD — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 4, 2025 Pandey said, "A letter was initially issued asking me to stay in the house, but was later corrected. As soon as the government received information about our visit, a large police force was deployed at our private residence in Lucknow to stop us from going to Bareilly. This is completely unfortunate and undemocratic. It violates the rights granted by the Constitution.” समाजवादी पार्टी के माननीय राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री अखिलेश यादव जी के निर्देशानुसार हमारी अध्यक्षता में समाजवादी पार्टी का प्रतिनिधि मण्डल आज बरेली जाने हेतु निर्देशित किया गया था , इसकी जानकारी सरकार को मिलते ही सरकारिया तंत्र ने हमारे लखनऊ स्थित निजी आवास पर भारी मात्रा में पुलिस… pic.twitter.com/1LJk8gFq8R — Mata Prasad Pandey (@pmataprasadsp) October 4, 2025 SP MP Ziaur Rahman has also been placed under house arrest in Sambhal, reported PTI. Visuals showed police personnel stationed outside his residence. VIDEO | Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman reportedly under house arrest. Visuals from outside his residence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. A delegation of 14 Samajwadi Party MPs and MLAs is scheduled to visit Bareilly, under the leadership of LoP Mata Prasad Pandey. (Full video… pic.twitter.com/Vulz9EdRmY — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 4, 2025 'Dirty politics': BJP UP deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya took to X saying that, "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." सपा बहादुर श्री अखिलेश यादव का बरेली में प्रतिनिधिमंडल भेजना नौटंकी और बचकाना कदम है। सपा की पहचान मुस्लिम तुष्टिकरण की गंदी राजनीति से है। विधानसभा चुनाव 2027 में सपा की दुर्दशा और सफाया होना तय है। यूपी दंगा मुक्त, सुशासन व क़ानून व्यवस्था हमारी पहचान और उपलब्धि है। सपाइयों को… — Keshav Prasad Maurya (@kpmaurya1) October 4, 2025
