Police cane charge protesting Samajwadi supporters in Prayagraj, MP Dharmendra Yadav injured

Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav and several party supporters got injured after police resorted to cane charge to disperse them in Prayagraj. SP supporters were protesting against the Yogi Adityanath government for stopping former chief minister and party chief Akhilesh Yadav from going to the city earlier in the day. Akhilesh Yadav was scheduled to attend a students' union event at Allahabad University (AU).  

Supporters of Samajwadi Party are taking out processions against the state government and they also burnt the effigy of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. 

Earlier today, Akhilesh was allegedly stopped at Lucknow airport while he was on his way to Prayagraj. Taking to Twitter, the former chief minister said that he was stopped at the airport as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government is afraid of him attending the swearing-in program of a student leader.

"The government is so afraid of me going to attend a student leader's swearing-in ceremony that I am being stopped at Lucknow airport," he tweeted in Hindi. He also shared photographs in which he was seen talking to police officers inside the airport.

बिना किसी लिखित आदेश के मुझे एयरपोर्ट पर रोका गया। पूछने पर भी स्थिति साफ करने में अधिकारी विफल रहे। छात्र संघ कार्यक्रम में जाने से रोकना का एक मात्र मकसद युवाओं के बीच समाजवादी विचारों और आवाज को दबाना है। pic.twitter.com/151IwzPl1t

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) February 12, 2019

Speaking to reporters, Adityanath said Yadav's visit could have triggered violence between rival student groups at the Allahabad University. "The Allahabad University had urged the government to stop his visit and the government acted," he said.

Reacting to the development, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said it was extremely condemnable and asked whether the ruling BJP was afraid of their alliance because of which it is "resorting to anti-democratic methods".

Mayawati described the episode as "an example of total dictatorship of BJP government".

"This is very unfortunate and this undemocratic step will be fought at all levels. Is the BJP government at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh so afraid of BSP-SP alliance that it is resorting to anti-democratic methods to curb our political activities," she asked.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also condemned the arrogant attitude of the BJP-led state government.

I've already spoken to @yadavakhilesh. We all condemn the arrogant attitude of the so-called #BJP ‘leaders’ who didn't allow Akhilesh to address the students. Even @jigneshmevani80 was not allowed. Where is the democracy in our country? And they are giving lessons to everybody!

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 12, 2019

“I've already spoken to @yadavakhilesh. We all condemn the arrogant attitude of the so-called #BJP ‘leaders’ who didn't allow Akhilesh to address the students. Even @jigneshmevani80 was not allowed. Where is the democracy in our country? And they are giving lessons to everybody! (sic)” she tweeted.