UP cancels permission for BJP rally in Fatehpur Sikri

State spokesman of the BJP Vijay Bahadur Pathak slammed the state government and said all talk of restoration of democracy by the Samajwadi Party (SP) government when coming to power was proven a "big sham."

"Cancelling political activity without any rhyme or reason... is this democracy?" Pathak asked. He said the cancellation of permission for the rally smacked of minority appeasement.

He asked why, when the Samajwadi Party's national executive meeting could occur in Agra for two days, the BJP could not hold a rally a few kilometres away.

Firming up its position on the issue, the state president of the BJP Laxmikant Bajpayi said the party will go ahead with its plans, and dared the Akhilesh Yadav government to do whatever it can.