Wednesday, June 15 2005 09:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Rampur: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and senior party leader Vinay Katiyar were taken into custody in the wee hours today (Jun 15, 2005) while protesting the removal of a statue of Jan Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and demolition of a square in Rampur town of Uttar Pradesh.

Naqvi told sources that he was taken into custody at around 03:00 hrs (IST) while protesting the demolition of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Chowk. Katiyar was also taken into custody later, he said.

Naqvi alleged the demolition, which followed the removal of the statue on Sunday (Jun 12, 2005) night, was being carried out at the behest of Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan.

The authorities, meanwhile, said the step was taken to widen a road.

On BJP's rally in protest of the move, Naqvi said it would be held later in the day and senior party leaders, including State unit President Kesri Nath Tripathi, have reached the town to participate in it.