Varanasi violence: Congress condemns invoking of NSA against Ajay Rai

Lucknow, Oct 15: Congress today strongly condemned the imposition of National Security Act (NSA) on its MLA Ajay Rai in connection with the violence in Varanasi during the Pratikar Yatra on October 5.

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Pradeep Mathur condemned the booking of Rai under NSA, alleging that the SP government in Uttar Pradesh had completely surrendered before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a statement issued here, Mathur said that the party condemns "jungleraj" in the state.

"Why there were no cases registered against BJP MLAs who had also participated in the yatra", he asked.

He alleged that the government was adopting "talibani" attitude.

The CLP leader said that the party would raise the issue before the people. Rai was arrested for his alleged role in the violence and arson during a march by seers and other local leaders against police action on protesters opposing ban on immersion of Ganesha idols in the Ganga river.

The MLA was arrested on October 6 as soon as he landed at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport in Babatpur (Varanasi) from New Delhi. He was later shifted to Fatehgarh district jail.

PTI