BJP hell-bent on spreading violence in UP: SP

Lucknow, July 4: Samajwadi Party (SP) has termed the BJP leaders' attempt to defy a ban on holding "mahapanchayat" in Kanth area in Moradabad district as a 'cheap and dirty act' and alleged that they were hell bent upon spreading violence in Uttar Pradesh.

"Since BJP has come to power at the Centre, its people are hell-bent on spreading violence and flaring up communal passion in the state," SP's state spokesman and Cabinet minister Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI.

"The manner in which the BJP leaders attempted to defy the ban and hold mahapanchayat is a clear indicator of their intention. SP strongly condemns their act which is cheap and dirty...," he added.

Chaudhary alleged that ever since the SP came to power in the state with clear mandate, BJP has continuously been trying to disturb peace, law and order in the name of 'parikrama' or 'mahapanchayats'.

"The SP government will deal strictly against such attempts to maintain peace, and law and order in the state," he said. Four BJP legislators, including Muzaffarnagar riots accused Sangeet Som, were today detained in Moradabad after they tried to defy a ban on the party from holding a 'mahapanchayat' in Kanth area.

The mahapanchayat was called by the party's state unit after a recent dispute in Kanth, over a loudspeaker installed at a temple, which led to communal tension in the area.

Som, a Sardhana MLA, Amroha MP Kunwar Singh Tanwar, Sambhal MP Satyapal Saini from and Rampur MP Nepal Singh have been detained and sent to police lines, Moradabad Commissioner Shiv Shankar Singh said. Apart from these legislators, members of RSS and Hindu Maha Sabha along with their supporters were also present, he said.

PTI