"Absolutely authoritarian rule": Congress' Danish Ali on house arrest

New Delhi [India], October 1 (ANI): Congress Leader Kunwar Danish Ali has strongly condemned the UP government's actions, claiming them as "authoritarian" and "oppressive" after being placed under house arrest in Amroha. He was en route to Bareilly in the aftermath of a protest over "I Love Muhammad" posters that turned violent on September 26.
Ali alleged that the government's actions are driven by fear of losing power, particularly after Rahul Gandhi's efforts to expose alleged electoral fraud have resonated with the public.
Speaking to reporters outside his residence, Ali said, "This is absolutely authoritarian rule... you're turning this into a police state. What meaning is left of democracy now? If elected representatives, the voices of the people, are being silenced, what does that say? This government is completely inhuman. It is an oppressive regime because they have realised that their power is slipping away from under their feet. The way Rahul Gandhi has exposed vote theft before the entire country has struck a chord with the people. They now believe this government came to power through electoral fraud....That's why the government is resorting to conspiracies, to destabilise the state and incite communal polarisation."
Ali also claimed that he was not informed of the reasons for his house arrest, "I haven't been shown any warrant... someone should at least tell me why I'm being stopped. I saw the police outside here at 10:30 PM...
The Congress leader issued a stern warning to the Chief Minister and the UP government, alleging that they should abandon their "oppressive policies."
"I was going there alone... appealing for peace once we reach... asking people not to be provoked... to maintain calm. I am warning the Chief Minister, Yogi's BJP government, and the UP Police to abandon these oppressive policies.", Ali said.
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi also criticised the house arrest of Ali, describing the action of the administration as "outright dictatorship."
In a post on X, Pratapgarhi said, "Putting Congress leaders under house arrest while they are en route to Bareilly is outright dictatorship. In a democracy, the government is so fearful of the opposition that it has placed guards to prevent leaders who are going to meet the police administration from even leaving their homes."
Pratapgarhi also criticised the CM Yogi's statements in the Bareilly case, calling them "not only condemnable but also inciting the police to take one-sided action." He emphasised that as a holder of a constitutional position, the Chief Minister should maintain linguistic decorum.
"The way the Chief Minister is issuing statements in the Bareilly case is not only condemnable but also incites the police to take one-sided action. For a person holding a constitutional position, every citizen of the state is their own; at the very least, the head of the state should maintain linguistic decorum.", the post read.

बरेली जाने के क्रम में कॉंग्रेस नेताओं को हाउस अरेस्ट करना सीधे सीधे तानाशाही है, लोकतंत्र में विपक्ष से सरकार इतना डरती है कि पुलिस प्रशासन से मिलने जा रहे नेताओं को घर से भी निकलने पर पहरा लगा दिया है।
बरेली प्रकरण में जिस तरह मुख्यमंत्री जी बयान दे रहे हैं वो न सिर्फ निंदनीय…

— Imran Pratapgarhi (@ShayarImran) October 1, 2025

Meanwhile, Bareilly Police made 56 arrests, including Nadeem Khan, a key conspirator in the Bareilly violence case. Bareilly SSP Anurag Arya, who led the crackdown, confirmed that Nadeem was apprehended by the police for his involvement in inciting violence.
According to the police, the protesters gathered outside Ala Hazrat Dargah & IMC chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan's house, holding 'I Love Mohammad' placards after the Friday prayers. They pelted stones and clashed with the police during the protests. The confrontation resulted in injuries and significant damage to public property, said the police.
According to the police, the protesters were incited by provocative messages on WhatsApp.Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday strongly criticised the miscreants involved in the recent violence in Bareilly, and warned them of police action.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday strongly criticised the miscreants involved in the violence in Bareilly, and warned them of police action.
Addressing a public meeting in Balrampur, CM Yogi cited the lathi-charge in Bareilly and said that the miscreants would be dealt with in a similar manner.
He said, "A few individuals should not be allowed to spoil the environment. These are the same people who brought an identity crisis to Uttar Pradesh along with the corrupt governments. There were no investments or developments in the State due to these people."
"Now they are adopting new tactics. But they must remember that we are more prepared than they think. They will be beaten just as they were beaten in Bareilly," the Chief Minister added.
Condemning the "I love Muhammad" posters, CM Yogi said that the "fools" are ruining the lives of the children."These fools don't even know that symbols of faith are honoured, not loved. Faith isn't something to be displayed at crossroads; it's a matter of conscience. Some people are creating chaos in society by giving small children posters of 'I Love Muhammad'. They don't even realise that their own lives are already ruined, but they're hell-bent on ruining the lives of these children as well," he said. (ANI)