Trinamool team stopped in Lucknow; UP BJP blames SP, Congress and BSP

LUCKNOW: A four-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress was detained at the Lucknow airport on Sunday afternoon. They had arrived here to meet the families of those impacted by the December 19 violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Meanwhile, out of those arrested for the violent protests that took place in Lucknow on Sunday, six have been found to be from Malda in West Bengal, said DGP OP Singh. He told the media the leaders were not bepermitted to enter the city as it could make the atmosphere more ‘tense’.

Deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma also hinted at the involvement of ‘outsiders’. "There is involvement of Popular Front of India (PFI). They have connection wit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Six persons from Malda have been arrested," Sharma said.


Meanwhile, as the death toll in the state rose to 15, including the death of an eight-year old, the BJP president in UP , Swatantra Dev Singh said the police has acted in a ‘sincere manner’ and the scale of protests is due to the organised efforts of SP, Congress and BSP. “It is the first time such a violent protest has taken place in UP and all I would like to say is that the organised effort of SP, Congress and BSP is behind this...,” Singh told ET to questions regarding footage of police going all out in silencing protesters in Aligarh Muslim University, Kanpur and Varanasi.

Singh accused the opposition parties of inciting violence by misleading people. Earlier in the day, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said the party was against Citizenship Amendment Act and would make sure it was challenged at every step. He, however said there is “no place for violence”.