Uttar Pradesh government stops 'Mahapanchayat' in Moradabad, BJP MPs detained

Moradabad: Uttar Pradesh government took strict measures to stop BJP from holding on Friday a large gathering called the ‘Mahapanchayat’ in Moradabad district. The area had seen communal tension in the past few weeks.

BJP legislator Sangeet Som, an accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots, alongwith three other party MPs were detained as they tried to protest the ban on the Mahapanchayat. Kunwar Singh Tanwar, the MP from Amroha, Satyapal Saini from Sambhal and Nepal Singh, the Rampur MP, were stopped when they tried to head towards Kanth area.

A gathering of more than four or five people has been banned and there is massive police presence in the area. People not belonging to the region are not being allowed inside.

The gathering was called in Moradabad by the BJP over a dispute in Kanth regarding a loudspeaker installed at a temple.
A minority community had earlier objected to the loudspeaker after which the district administration had it removed. This incident led to communal tensions. BJP workers who tried to organize a protest in the area clashed with the policemen, a few weeks ago.