Both Houses of UP state legislature were adjourned for the day after opposition members in Assembly and Council questioned the state government’s intention of stopping Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav from going to Prayagraj.
Akhilesh was prevented from boarding a chartered flight to Prayagraj from Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport at Amausi citing Prayagraj District Magistrate’s report that the former UP CM's visit might create a law and order problem at Allahabad University and the city where Kumbh Mela was underway.
Akhilesh was scheudled to go to Prayagraj to attend a function of Allahabad University Students' Union and felicitation by Akhara Parishad for successfully holding the 2013 Kumbh Mela.
The SP legislatures termed the detention as 'undeclared emergency' and continued slogan shouting inside the Well in both Houses. When they refused to obey the plea of the Chair, both Houses were adjourned for the day.
In the Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna said that a section of Allahabad University Students’ Union (AUSU) had said that no political leader be allowed to take part in the students' union’s swearing-in ceremony. In AUSU, the president is from the youth wing of the SP, while the secretary is from ABVP, the youth outfit of the BJP.
“The District Magistrate of Prayagraj had sent a letter saying there could be students' unrest if Akhilesh came to the university. Based on that report. the SP chief was informed on Monday and was advised not to go to Prayagraj. Despite that, he went to the airport, but fearing law and order problem he was not allowed to fly to Prayagraj,” Khanna said as the whole opposition in the Assembly, comprising Samajwadi Party, BSP and Congress members, rose on their feet and raised slogans against the government.
It started suddenly during Question Hour when Narendra Verma (SP) stood up suddenly saying that democracy was in peril and Akhilesh Yadav had been arrested.
Speaker Hriday Narain Dikshit tried to persuade members not to disrupt Question Hour, but the agitated SP members refused to budge forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House till 1220 pm.
After the adjournment, the SP members squatted in the Well of the House and refused to move from there. They were later joined by BSP members too. Amid slogans by SP- BSP members against the government and counter sloganeering by BJP members, the Chair completed the agenda of the House and adjourned it for the day.
Similarly, in the Council, initially the House was adjourned till 11.35 am over the hooch incident. But when it reassembled, Leader of Opposition Ahmed Hasan alleged that 'undemocratic' BJP was trying to impose emergency-like situation in the state.
Later, chairman of the Council Ramesh Yadav adjourned the House till 12 noon. But even after the lunch break, the SP, who is in the majority in the Upper House, continued to agitate, forcing the Chair to adjourn it for the entire day.