SP claims Akhilesh Yadav under house arrest, SP workers tortured

The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Thursday claimed that its state unit president Akhilesh Yadav and several other leaders have been put under "house arrest" and party workers tortured to prevent them from leading a one-day agitation against the BSP government.

"The state government is functioning in an autocratic manner. It is not even allowing me to reach party office," Yadav told reporters outside his residence here.

The SP had announced a village-level protest to press for ouster of the "corrupt" BSP government in the state today.

A strong police contingent has been deployed at the party office and the house of the SP leader and barricades have been erected.

"It's a breach of my privilege and I will write to Lok Sabha speaker about it. I have not been allowed to attend Parliament," Yadav said.

The SP also claimed that a number of its leaders were either arrested or put under house arrest by the state government.

SP MP Sushila Saroj has also been put under house arrest at her residence at Indira Nagar, party sources claimed.

"A number of party workers have been arrested throughout the state ahead of the agitation today," the SP Rajendra Chowdhary spokesperson said.

Yesterday, cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh had requested the political parties to put forth their views in a disciplined manner and not disturb the law and order situation or loss of property as agitations affect common people most.

Earlier, the SP had organised a three-day demonstration from March 7-9 against the state government leading to clashes between party workers and police.