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Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
Video Producer: Hera Khan
Describing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's comments that his Pryagraj (erstwhile Allahabad) visit could have triggered violence as "a cover to hide nervousness", Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav during a press conference on Tuesday, 12 February, said that stopping him shows how "scared" the government is.
The Samajwadi Party Chief earlier on Tuesday alleged that the Uttar Pradesh police had stopped him at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport to prevent him from visiting Prayagraj to attend an oath-taking ceremony at Allahabad University.
"If there was a genuine problem, the police there would have objected, or asked for a change in my schedule. I understand the need to ensure the safety of people and property and would never do something to endanger either knowingly," he added.
He said the BJP has lost Uttar Pradesh, "but more than an election, they have lost the faith that the youth of this country reposed in them".
The former UP chief minister said the BJP has betrayed the aspirations and hopes of crores of young people in their "blind pursuit" of creating a monochrome India.
Soon after Akhilesh Yadav was stopped at the Lucknow airport from boarding a flight to Prayagraj, UP CM Adityanath justifying the government’s move said that Yadav’s visit to Prayagraj ‘could have created a law and order situation’.
“The Samajwadi Party should refrain from its anarchist activities,” Adityanath said.
Prior to his press conference, Yadav in a series of tweets lashed at the state government and said that he had not received any written order.
Mayawati came out in support of Akhilesh Yadav soon after he tweeted about the incident.
Even Samajwadi Party’s Ramgopal Yadav blamed Adityanath for Akhilesh’s detention.
“I directly blame the Chief Minister. Akhilesh Yadav had the permission. It was at the direction of the Chief Minister that he was stopped. They didn’t even let him reach Prayagraj,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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