New Delhi, Oct 4 (NationPress) A delegation from the Samajwadi Party (SP), including MPs Iqra Hasan and Mohibbullah Nadvi, departed from the residence of senior SP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Harendra Singh Malik on Saturday, heading towards trouble-affected Bareilly. However, they were halted prior to reaching their destination due to a significant police presence.

This visit follows escalating tensions in Bareilly related to the contentious ‘I Love Muhammad’ slogan incident.

Party leaders aim to connect with those impacted by this occurrence and evaluate the local situation. Ziaur Rahman Barq, a notable SP MP, was supposed to join the group from Sambhal.

Despite their efforts, the delegation was obstructed by heavy police deployment before they could reach Bareilly.

SP MLA Ataur Rahman, who was part of the visiting group, claimed that the authorities are attempting to stifle democratic engagement.

In response to being prevented from traveling to Bareilly due to the 'I Love Muhammad' row and the ensuing violence, SP MP Hasan stated, "The ruling authority has a hand in this. Our goal was to arrive, listen to the people's grievances, and amplify their voices, which is our obligation as public representatives. Yet, we were obstructed here."

MP Harendra Singh Malik remarked, "We simply wished to travel within our own nation, to visit our own districts, yet we are treated this way. If the government had acted against terrorists in such a manner, incidents like the Pulwama and Pahalgam attacks would not have happened. They should have been intercepted."

SP MP Mohibbullah Nadvi asserted, "In Bareilly, the law and the Constitution are being violated, and residents are facing oppression. We are leaving under the party president’s directives. We will continue our struggle in the capital. The Samajwadi Party remains confident in our victory in this fight..."

SP MLA Ataur Rahman stated: "We intended to visit Bareilly on Mata Prasad Pandey's instructions to meet the victims of the incident and ensure justice, but police from multiple stations have been deployed here to block our access."

Leader of the Opposition in the UP Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey, emphasized: "All officials there in Bareilly were appointed by me as SPs. Meeting these officials directly allows us to engage with the community and gather accurate information... By going there ourselves, we can comprehend the people's concerns and address them."

Earlier today, police forces were stationed outside Mata Prasad Pandey's residence in Lucknow.

The SP's initiative comes amid rising criticism of the UP government’s management of communal tensions in Bareilly, where numerous youths have reportedly been detained or interrogated regarding slogans supporting the Prophet Muhammad. This controversy has ignited a political firestorm, with opposition parties accusing the administration of religious profiling and excessive force.

Harendra Singh Malik, from whose residence the delegation began its journey, stressed that their visit was solely aimed at promoting peace and justice.

Currently, the atmosphere in Bareilly remains tense, with a significant number of police personnel deployed in sensitive areas. The SP delegation has called on the government to permit peaceful political engagement and ensure transparency in police operations.