BJP leaders including MP Tejasvi Surya and Rajasthan party unit chief Satish Poonia were detained by Rajasthan Police on Wednesday for attempting to travel to Karauli, which had witnessed communal violence last week.
Surya and Poonia were detained at the district border between Dausa and Karauli. Surya, who is national president of the Yuva Morcha, was leading a group of activists of the BJP's youth wing to demand justice for victims of the communal violence in Karauli.
After being stopped by police, Surya lashed out at Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. “Section 144 is not in place at where we are now... It's our constitutional right to go to Karauli. This dictatorial government is snatching our rights, which is why we are protesting,” Surya was quoted as saying by ANI.
BJP leaders alleged the Rajasthan Police used lathis against its protesters. Neha Joshi, the vice president of the Yuva Morcha, tweeted, “We were stopped and lathis were used. The BJP MP... MLAs were treated like goons by the police. When we stood firm, we were taken into custody. But this is the beginning of the struggle @ashokgehlot51 Babu. Will not be able to stop us so easily from reaching Karauli.”
Surya had dared the Rajasthan government to stop the BJP team's visit to Karauli. “At any cost, we will go to Karauli. We will try to go peacefully. If the police try to stop us, we will collective court arrest and detention,” he was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Curfew was imposed in Karauli following the violence that erupted when a Hindu procession passed through a Muslim locality on April 9 to mark the Hindu New Year. Around 35 people were injured in the stone pelting and retaliatory violence. At least 46 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
