Bharat Bandh: Police detain several Oppn leaders in city

Kanpur: Several opposition leaders, including former CPM MP Subhashini Ali, former Congress MP Rajaram Pal, Congress party MLA from Cantt Sohail Akhtar Ansari, Samajwadi Party MLA from Arya Nagar Amitabh Bajpai and Congress district president Har Prakash Agnihotri were put under house arrest on early Tuesday morning in view of the Bharat Bandh call given by farmers against the Centre’s new farm laws.

“Several women police constables were made to sit near the entrance of my house in Civil Lines,” alleged CPM leader Subhasini Ali. She said that she was supposed to go to the Shikshak Park in Naveen Market area along with the party supporters to take part in the Bharat Bandh and express solidarity with farmers, but was prevented by police from doing so.

“Both the Centre and the state have taken dictatorial measures to suppress farmers’ protest. They (farmers) are our `anna-data’ (food providers) and need us in the time of distress”, she said.

“We were put under house arrest ever since early Tuesday morning. Police did not permit us to leave the residence,” said Congress MLA Sohail Akhtar Ansari.

Similarly, police foiled the bid of SP MLA Amitabh Bajpai to reach Shikshak Park to take part in the Bharat Bandh by putting him under house arrest. “In democracy, the opposition has a right to stage protest in support of the genuine demands of the people but the Central and the state governments are preventing us from doing so which is not only against the democratic principles but also against the country’sConstitution. Come what may, I will go to Shikshak Park along with the party workers and supporters to take part in the Bharat Bandh. Police are free to arrest us,” Bajpai said.

Congress leader Karishma Thakur was put under house arrest in the Rail Bazar area.

Former Congress MP Raja Ram Pal was also taken into custody at the Gandhi statue in Phoolbagh.

Neighbouring Unnao too saw a mixed response to the ‘Bharat Bandh call. Most of the shops in the city remained open as usual.