Uttar Pradesh: Congress leader Aradhana Misra Mona criticized the Uttar Pradesh government after Congress leaders were barred from visiting violence-stricken Sambhal, accusing the authorities of “house arrest” and labeling the situation as “anarchy” and “hooliganism.”
State Congress President Ajay Rai and other leaders had planned a visit to Sambhal on Monday. However, the Lucknow Police issued a notice urging Rai to postpone the visit due to restrictions imposed by the District Magistrate under Section 163 BNSS, meant to maintain communal harmony and public order in the sensitive area.
Misra claimed that police were stationed outside the residences of several Congress leaders, hindering them from leaving. She described the government’s actions as authoritarian, emphasizing that the violence in Sambhal, which resulted in five deaths and injuries to around 30 police officers, is a serious matter.
She stated, “A painful incident has occurred in Sambhal… Our state president and other leaders are also being stopped. This is purely the anarchy of the government.” Misra accused the authorities of misusing Section 163 to conceal their failures, pointing out that the law applies to Sambhal, not Lucknow, and asserting that their homes are effectively being treated as prisons.
State President Ajay Rai contested the timing of the government’s restrictions, noting that an entry ban on outsiders in Sambhal was lifted on November 30 and that they had chosen December 2 for their visit. “They issued the notice under Section 163 this morning. However, we are determined to proceed in our own Gandhian way,” Rai told.
This situation follows a previous incident where a 15-member delegation from the Samajwadi Party, led by Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey, was also prevented from visiting Sambhal due to heavy police presence. Their attempts to leave Pandey’s residence and to reach the party office were blocked by security forces.
The unrest in Sambhal was triggered by clashes during a court-ordered survey of the disputed Mughal-era Jama Masjid, which involves claims to a nearby Harihar temple. The violence led to multiple deaths, injuries to law enforcement personnel, and extensive property damage. In response, authorities have heightened security measures and suspended internet services in the area to restore order.