Samajwadi Party MLA Mata Prasad Pandey on Saturday claimed that he was barred from leaving his home in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow to visit Bareilly district, where clashes broke out on September 26.

On Friday, the Samajwadi Party had announced that a 14-member delegation of party MPs, led by Pandey, would travel to the district following the incident, which took place when a crowd carrying “I love Muhammad” posters clashed with police outside a mosque in the Kotwali area.

Pandey claimed that the district magistrate told him that his visit would “spoil the atmosphere” in Bareilly.

He said: “We don’t spoil any atmosphere, the administration is not letting us go there to hide its own shortcomings.”

Pandey called the situation “completely unfortunate and undemocratic”.

The party’s social media handles also posted photos and videos showing police purportedly stopping its leaders from traveling to Bareilly.

“The MPs had left from Delhi, but were stopped from leaving their homes in their constituencies,” The Indian Express quoted Pandey as saying.

“We had been receiving phone calls and messages that… innocent people were being sent to jail,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “Our intention was to get to the truth and help those in need.”

The leader of opposition in Uttar Pradesh Assembly also criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and accused the state administration of trying to suppress opposition voices.

“What can be expected from such a system when the chief minister of the state himself says ‘main inko sabak sikhaunga [I will teach them a lesson]’,” Pandey was quoted as saying.

Two days after the Bareilly clashes, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had warned that anyone spreading anarchy during the festive season would be made to “pay a price that future generations will remember”.

Earlier this week, Lok Sabha MP Chandrashekhar Azad, and Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders Danish Ali and Imran Masood had also claimed that they were stopped from traveling to Bareilly.

Reacting to the Samajwadi Party’s claims, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya described the plan as “childish” and accused the party of Muslim appeasement.

“The SP is known for its dirty politics of Muslim appeasement,” the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said. “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 came against the backdrop of the row over “I love Muhammad” banners, which began on September 4 during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur.

Hindu groups had objected to the banner, claiming that a “new tradition” was being introduced at the procession.

The police claimed that government rules prohibit introducing new customs into religious processions. On September 9, the police went on to file cases against 24 persons, of whom 15 were unidentified, for allegedly introducing a new custom during the procession and disturbing communal harmony.

However, the police action sparked protests and processions with “I love Muhammad” banners in other districts of Uttar Pradesh and other states. Some of the protests led to clashes with the police, leading to cases being filed.

The unrest in Bareilly reportedly followed the last-minute cancellation of a protest called by local Muslim cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan in support of the campaign. He said authorities had denied him permission for the demonstration.

Police alleged that Raza delivered speeches that provoked the crowd. He was arrested on September 27 and sent to 14-day judicial custody.

Since September 26, 81 persons have been arrested in Bareilly in connection with the clashes, Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya said on Thursday.

Five arrested in Meerut

Five persons in Mawana town of Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district were arrested on Saturday for allegedly putting up an “I love Muhammad” poster, PTI quoted the police as saying.

The poster, placed at the main intersection of the town on Friday night, sparked protests from residents the following morning.

According to Station House Officer Poonam Jadon, the first information report was filed based on a complaint by outpost in-charge Manoj Sharma.

The five accused persons, Idrish, Tasleem, Rihan, Gulfam and Haroon, have been booked under Section 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to statements conducing to public mischief.

The posters were removed and additional police forces deployed throughout the town to prevent any escalation, PTI reported.

Also read: ‘BJP may reap benefit’: The politics behind ‘I ♥ Muhammad’ posters in Uttar Pradesh

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