A 15-member delegation from the Samajwadi Party (SP), led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mata Prasad Pandey, was halted by heavy police security on Saturday while attempting to visit Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh. The delegation, organized under the leadership of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, was set to investigate the recent violent clashes in the region and prepare a report for submission to the party’s National President.
The delegation, which included SP leaders such as Legislative Council leader Lal Bihari Yadav, state President Shyam Lal Pal, other MLAs, MLCs, and prominent party officials, was en route to Sambhal to meet the victims of the violence and the families of those killed. However, before they could leave Pandey’s residence, security forces stopped them from proceeding. Despite attempts to redirect their visit to the party office, the police continued to restrict their movement, leading to a standoff.
Reacting to the situation, Pandey criticized the police’s actions, stating, “The police have no right to stop us. It is our constitutional right to travel freely within the state, and they cannot prevent us from going to Lucknow or anywhere else.” He also condemned the police action as unconstitutional, emphasizing that the ban on entering Sambhal should not extend to other areas like Lucknow.
The Samajwadi Party delegation had planned to visit Moradabad first before proceeding to Sambhal. Their aim was to gather firsthand information about the violence that erupted during a court-mandated survey at the disputed Mughal-era Jama Masjid, leading to clashes between protesters and police. The violence resulted in the deaths of six youths and several injuries, including to police personnel.
In response to the unrest, the Uttar Pradesh government had suspended internet services in the region and imposed restrictions on outsiders entering Sambhal to prevent further escalation. The situation in Sambhal has since calmed, with normal activities resuming, including schools reopening and daily routines returning to normal.
