Dadri lynching: BJP MLA Sangeet Som accuses SP govt of ‘appeasing’ muslims

On a day chief minister Akhilesh Yadav met in Lucknow the family of 50-year-old Ikhlaq, who was lynched over beef eating rumours, assuring them of justice, Som visited Dadri where he attacked SP government alleging that it was shielding those who had “slaughtered cow”.

“The Samajwadi Party and in particular Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Azam Khan’s response in this case had been one lacking sensitivity”.

Questioning the arrests in the lynching case, Som said, “We aren’t saying that those guilty of murder should not be tried but the government should stop framing the innocent”.

Police have arrested eight persons and detained a Home Guard for questioning after the local temple priest alleged that he forced him to make the announcement. “We can share their grief, however can’t erase the scene they witnessed”, he informed reporters after assembly Ikhlaq’s mom Asgari, brother Mohammed Afzal and daughter Shaista. “Then will meet families of those innocent boys who were booked by UP police”, he said.

Following the beef consumption announcement, the victim Iqlakh was dragged out of his home and killed on a village street.

Though the district administration has clamped section 144 at Bisara, both Som and a saffron outfit, Hindu Raksha Sena, managed to hold a “panchayat” in the village where they reportedly delivered provocative speeches.

“This is a politico-ideological murder”. He met a few local people and women who had been upset with the case. However, BJP chief Harish Thakur denied that the daddy of the accused was a BJP workplace bearer and stated he could also be a BJP supporter. In a statement, BJP secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said: “Rather than shedding crocodile tears, Akhilesh Yadav should answer as to why his police wanted to do forensic test of meat sample when the issue should have been arresting the culprits of the most unfortunate and barbaric killing in Dadri. However, those who are going from outside, it is evident that they must be doing it for political capital”, BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told ANI here.

Meanwhile, Congress attacked the BJP and its government at the Centre over the incident and said all progressive thinking people should stand up against it.

They want that the minority should be second grade citizens, “The Government wants to dictate as to what people should eat, what people should wear, how people should talk. We will even present home, full safety and if required job to at least one member of the family”.