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Kalyan detained on arrival in city
FORMER CHIEF Minister and BJP national vice-president Kalyan Singh said here on Sunday that since the Vidhan and local bodies elections were round the corner, the State Government was whipping up communal passion to woo Muslims.
FORMER CHIEF Minister and BJP national vice-president Kalyan Singh said here on Sunday that since the Vidhan and local bodies elections were round the corner, the State Government was whipping up communal passion to woo Muslims.
Earlier, the former Chief Minister was arrested by the district administration and sent to the Circuit House. Talking to newsmen at the Circuit House, Singh said, “The State Government is trying to garner Muslim support by perpetrating communal violence.” Regarding the incidents of violence in Aligarh Singh said, “It’s not a communal violence but a one-sided attack on Hindus by Muslims.”
He said that on the occasion of Ram Navami, several Hindu temples were attacked in Aligarh in a pre-planned manner, Singh said. He held the State Government responsible for the Aligarh riots.
Criticising the State Government, the former Chief Minister said, “Even in Mau, the Hindus were attacked during the Bharat Milap ceremony which clearly indicates that the Hindus were attacked in a well-planned manner.”
He said that the State Government had acted in an undemocratic manner and questioned the rational behind his arrest. “Aligarh is my home town and my visit to the city is justified,” Singh said. He also raised the issue Varanasi blasts and murder of BJP leader Krishna Nand Rai.
A cavalcade led by BJP district president (north) Rakesh Sonkar, party MLAs Satish Mahana and Salil Vishnoi welcomed Singh at the Jajmau bridge and informed him about the plans of the district administration to arrest him.
When Abrar Ahmad, ADM (city) arrested, Singh sought the reason for his arrest. He was informed by Ahmad that in order to maintain peace he was being arrested.
Rakesh Sonkar and other BJP leaders had a heated argument with Ahmad over Singh’s arrest. After the arrest Singh was sent to Circuit House. Later, he was sent back to Lucknow by the district administration.
In a statement issued late in the evening, BJP spokesperson Anoop Awasthi said both the north and south units of the party would stage a demonstration in protest against Singh’s arrest tomorrow.
