Police seal road outside Akhilesh Yadav's residence in Lucknow. (FILE PHOTO)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was taken into preventive custody on Monday after party leaders led by him broke through security cordon to sit on a dharna in Lucknow to oppose the three farm bills against which farmers have given a call for 'Bharat Bandh' on Tuesday.
Earlier today, Akhilesh staged a sit-in protest near his residence in Lucknow after police stopped him from going to Kannauj to take part in Kisan Yatra against the three farm laws. The Lucknow police had sealed a road outside the residence of Akhilesh Yadav's residence and placed barricades just ahead of his visit to Kannauj for a Kisan Yatra. According to Station House Officer (SHO), Gautampalli, Chandrashekhar Singh, Akhilesh Yadav was to go to Kannauj for a programme, but the Kannauj district magistrate did not permit it.
"If the new farm laws are intended to help the farmers, then why are they on the war path? Why is the government so adamant? If farmers don't want the new laws, the government should take these back," he told reporters at the protest site.
Akhilesh was slated to travel to Kannuaj to take part in a tractor rally as a part of the Kisan Yatra to show solidarity with the protesting farmers. The 13-km yatra was planned from Thathia to Tirwa. Farmers are protesting for the last 12 days against the three farm laws. They have called for a 'Bharat Bandh' on Tuesday.
READ MORE: Bharat Bandh on December 8: A look at what may be affected amid farmers' protest
Meanwhile, the party has termed the administration's move as undemocratic.
"This is an undemocratic move by the state government," SP national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said. "The government is feeling afraid that Akhilesh Yadav is going to participate in the 'Kisan Yatra'. Peaceful demonstration is the democratic right of every individual, and the government is adamant on violating it," he added.
The Samajwadi Party had on Sunday said that it will organise farmer rallies in all districts of the state from December 7, beginning with Kannauj. Several political parties including the SP have announced to support the nationwide strike called by farmers.
With PTI Inputs
