Adityanath defies ban to address rally in Lucknow

BJP's star campaigner for the Uttar Pradesh assembly by-polls and Lok Sabha member from Gorakhpur Yogi Adityanath Wednesday flouted a ban imposed on a meeting here and addressed party supporters.

Having being denied permission to address an election rally at Munshi Puliya in Indiranagar in the Lucknow (East) constituency, Adityanath accompanied by state Bharatiya Janata Party president Laxmikant Bajpayi tore into the Samajwadi Party government in the state and dared it to arrest him.

"If we have done anything wrong, arrest me but we will continue to protest the undemocratic acts of this state government," he said, referring to the denial of permission for the rally.

Permission was denied on the grounds that a fight might break out between Samajwadi Party and BJP workers, as both parties were holding rallies in adjacent areas.

Adityanath accused the Akhilesh Yadav government of "playing communal politics".

He also alleged that while Rs.300 crore was sanctioned to repair and upkeep graveyards of Muslims, there were no funds for the roads and power sector.

The Samajwadi Party said Adityanath's comments were "polarization at its worst".

Party leader Gaurav Bhatia said the BJP, with no issues, was trying to communally divide the state for electoral gain.

The BJP defended Adityanath.

State BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said the Lok Sabha member was only trying to highlight the wrongs done by the state government.

"The Samajwadi Party government is against the BJP and is engaged in political vendetta," he said.

The district administration, meanwhile, said they were seeking details of the rally and would act in accordance with the law.