Azad Samaj Party Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Speaks Out After Detention and Violence in Prayagraj

Azad Samaj Party leader and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad has alleged a “conspiracy” behind the violence that erupted in Prayagraj after his detention by police, claiming that innocent people, particularly from marginalized communities, are being unfairly targeted and arrested.

Speaking live on News24 with anchor Manak Gupta, Azad said, “What happened after my detention was a planned conspiracy. The incident site was 45-50 km from where I was being held. I was not even present there. Yet, violence broke out, and nearly 100 people have been arrested, many of them from their homes at night.”

Azad alleged that the police, accompanied by local goons, entered Dalit homes at night, arresting not only party workers but also students, minors, and people uninvolved with the protest. “Women are saying their sons were not even part of the Bhim Army. Some were just students or daily wage earners. The police and local criminals not only arrested people but also harassed women and looted homes, creating a situation where Dalits are forced to flee their villages,” Azad claimed.

He further accused the authorities of using excessive force and imposing the National Security Act (NSA) indiscriminately. “The NSA is being used to suppress Dalits, OBCs, and Muslims. I myself was jailed for months under the NSA without bail. Now, the administration is preparing to use it again against those arrested in Prayagraj. Most of those arrested are poor, marginalized people, many of whom were not even present at the scene,” he said.

Azad demanded a CBI inquiry into the violence, insisting that only an independent investigation could reveal the truth. He argued that police action is often politically motivated, recalling previous instances where he was accused of inciting violence, only to be acquitted by the courts.

Responding to accusations from the BJP and RSS that he is spreading caste-based hatred, Azad said, “I have always fought for the rights of the marginalized. I have faced jail, lathi charges, and even bullets. But I have never advocated violence. If you look at the recent incidents, who is really spreading hatred? Not us. We want justice, not division.”

Azad also commented on the ongoing debate about removing “socialist” and “secular” from the Indian Constitution’s preamble, a proposal recently echoed by RSS and BJP leaders. “The Constitution is inherently secular. Articles 13 to 30 guarantee rights for all, irrespective of caste or religion. There is nothing wrong with respecting all religions and upholding secularism,” he said.

On the topic of protests against recent legislative changes, Azad defended the right to oppose government policies in Parliament and on the streets, citing past resistance to bills that threatened the rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to fighting for justice: “Every innocent person jailed is my family. I will fight for them in court and on the streets. We will not rest until justice is served for the marginalized. If the government and police do not act fairly, we will take our fight to the Supreme Court.”

Azad’s statements come amid heightened tensions in Uttar Pradesh, where allegations of police excess and political targeting of Dalit activists have sparked widespread concern among human rights groups.