Lucknow, Dec 7 (IANS): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has written a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, saying that preventing him from exercising his democratic rights through peaceful protests amounted to a breach of privilege.

He said that he had been a Chief Minister, and is a Member of Parliament, but the Uttar Pradesh government has prevented him from participating in a party programme in Kannauj.

He said that his house was surrounded by the police and even his vehicles were seized.

He urged the Speaker to immediately intervene and ensure that his democratic rights are protected.

Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav has been taken to the Eco Garden after he was taken into custody.

Akhilesh said that whenever he is released, he will go to Kannauj to participate in the Kisan Yatra.

Thousands of Samajwadi Party workers have reached the Eco Garden and are shouting slogans against the government.

A heavy deployment of forces has been made at the Eco Garden that was built by Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati when she was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

District Magistrate of Lucknow, Abhishek Prakash said that no permission had been given for any event since Section 144 is still in place.