BJP delegation on its way to Shrawasti detained in Lucknow

Lucknow, Oct 12 (UNI) Police here today detained a Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) delegation on its way to Shrawasti district where situation was tense following controversy over Durga Puja procession on Thursday.

The BJP delegation led by state vice-president Hridya Narain Dikshit and 60 other supporters including legislator Suresh Srivastava and Schedule caste cell chairman Divakar Seth blocked the busy Lucknow Faizabad highway near Nandgaon under Chinnat Police station in the state capital in protest against their detention.

Later the BJP leaders were shifted to a nearby guest house under detention.

Talking to UNI, Mr Dikshit said the act of the Mayawati government against the opposition parties proved that 'political emergency' like situation prevailed in the state.

He said the BJP team was only going to Shrawasti to probe the incident and help the administration in peaceful solution of the issue.

Yesterday, BJP general secretary and in-charge UP Arun Jateily had asked the state party to send a fact-finding team to Shrawasti.

Tension prevailed in Sonwa area of Shrawasti district of UP after a procession traversed through the restricted route during the end of the Durga Puja celebrations.

However, the members of another community opposed this and the two groups pelted stones on each other.

Additonal Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Circle Officer (CO), were also wounded in the stone pelting, when they attempted to pacify the two sides.

However, BJP leaders claimed that about 2 dozen people were injured in the clash and police opened fire on the mob.

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