Mulayam manhandled in a bid to unveil statue

Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav was on Tuesday not allowed to unveil the statue of Ram Manohar Lohia in Lucknow following which he had a scuffle with the police personnel.

Sources said the Samajwadi Party supremo was about to unveil the statue, when the police personnel stopped him from doing so.

"The political scene in the country is changing. They were following the orders of the Chief Minister (Mayawati). Police officers were pulling the ladder even while we were inaugurating the statute with flowers," said Mulayam Singh Yadav

"They were even collecting the flowers to show the CM that they have tried their best to restrict me," he added.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Mohan said, "Mulayam Singh Yadav was manhandled," adding that the attitude of the state government was not right.

The district administration said Mulayam Singh Yadav was trying to unveil a statue on government property.

The state government had not given its nod to the Samajwadi Party to carry on with the ceremony.