Despite directives and warnings issued by UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi leaders in Uttar Pradesh are unable to control their “excitement and enthusiasm”.
“Excited” Samajwadis, on Sunday, blocked the national highway in Zoya in Amroha (J.P. Nagar) for almost four hours and indulged in celebratory firing to welcome newly-appointed minister Mehboob Ali. Thousands of vehicles, including an ambulance carrying a critically-ill patient, were caught in the jam and even though the cops pleaded with the minister’s supporters to let the ambulance pass, they refused to relent.
“It was harrowing, almost like complete jungle raj. My uncle had suffered a heartattack and we were on our way to the hospital when we were stopped by SP workers who fired hundreds of rounds in the air to celebrate their minister’s arrival. We pleaded with them, even the cops requested them but they refused to let the ambulance pass. Thank god my uncle survived the ordeal,” said a family member on Monday, requesting anonymity.
In Naini jail in Allahabad district, supporters of newly-elected MLA Vijay Misra, who is presently lodged in jail, created a ruckus when the jail authorities asked them to meet the legislator in batches. Additional force had to be called in before the SP workers agreed to toe the line.
In Barabanki, relatives of state minister Narendra Varma attacked the house of a dalit and beat up family members in connection with an old land dispute. The main accused, Dilip Varma is the brother-in-law of the minister and no case has been yet registered by the police.