Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, raised serious concerns regarding the restrictions imposed during Eid celebrations in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking to the media, Yadav expressed his frustration after being stopped by barricades on his way to attend Eid prayers. He questioned why he was not allowed to proceed, asking if this was an attempt by the government to suppress the celebration of religious festivals. He referred to the situation as reminiscent of emergency times and emphasized that such barricading was unprecedented. Yadav's comments came after the Uttar Pradesh government had announced measures to prevent prayers from being offered on roads to avoid disrupting traffic. While the government had urged people to offer prayers in mosques, Eidgahs, or on rooftops, Yadav criticized these restrictions, questioning the government's intentions. He accused the government of trying to create pressure and prevent people from celebrating their festivals freely. The incident occurred near the Ashbagh Eidgah, where Akhilesh Yadav was stopped for around 20-25 minutes before being allowed to proceed. Yadav, who has attended Eid prayers at this location for over a decade, emphasized that such actions hindered the festive spirit. His remarks have sparked a political debate over the government's handling of religious events.
