Dadri lynching: BJP MLA Sangeet Som jumps in; accuses SP govt of 'appeasing' Muslims, framing 'innocents'

Dadri: Stirring the political cauldron, controversial BJP MLA Sangeet Som on Sunday visited Dadri where he attacked Samajwadi Party government, alleging it was appeasing the minority community and innocent people were being framed for lynching of a man over beef eating rumour. Som, who was accused of making inflammatory speeches during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar communal riots, alleged that state government was acting in a biased manner like it did during violence in western Uttar Pradesh two years ago and was shielding those who had “slaughtered cow”. “Like they had taken the accused in Muzaffarnagar riots in a plane, they have taken those who have slaughtered cow in a plane. Even when a person is killed, they have different set of rules. Sanjay Rahul Yadav was shot in the incident, but is anyone aware. Did the government help him,” Som told reporters as the victim Ikhlaq’s family met Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow on Sunday. [caption id=“attachment_1683023” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] BJP MLA Sangeet Som. Ibnlive[/caption] The UP lawmaker’s remarks came even as BJP leader and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the incident should not be given communal colour or politicised. Som questioned why the state government had allowed AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi to visit the village and spread “communal frenzy”. “A person like Owaisi was allowed to come here from Hyderabad. Is the Samajwadi Party government colluding with him? A person from Hyderabad comes and is able to make such statements. Is it not the weakness of the government? “This government is trying to appease a particular community. They want to do politics of appeasement which we will not allow,” said the MLA who reportedly met the families of those arrested in the case and also addressed a meeting at a local temple in Bishada from where an annoucement had triggered mob fury on Monday night. Questioning the arrests in the lynching case, he said, “We don’t want that those guilty of murder should not be tried but the government should stop framing the innocent.” “Murder cases are on the rise in the state but is the government acting in the same manner in those cases. Are terrorists living here? Police should make arrests only after completing the investigation,” the MLA said. Som questioned why the state government had allowed AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi to visit the village and spread “communal frenzy”. “A person like Owaisi was allowed to come here from Hyderabad. Is the Samajwadi Party government colluding with him?… This government is trying to appease a particular community. They want to do politics of appeasement which we will not allow,” the MLA said. However, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav dismissed criticism of the government saying that Samajwadi Party would “never do politics” on such incidnets. “Those doing politics can level any allegation… but I want to assure that Samajwadis never do politics on such things. Since SP government came to power there are some forces trying to create one or the other atmosphere,” he alleged after meeting Ikhlaq’s mother Asgari, brother Mohammed Afzal and daughter Shaista. Assuring all help for the victim’s son Danish, 22, who was injured in the attack, he said, “Best possible treatment will be ensured wherever the family wishes. We will also provide house, complete security and if required job to one family member of the family.” Congress attacked the BJP and its government at the Centre over the incident and said all progressive thinking people should stand up against it. “This is a politico-ideological murder. There are some people who are trying to change the narrative of the country. 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. So this is an issue on which all progressive, liberal and right thinking need to stand together,” Congress leader Manish Tewari said. Tension prevailed in Bishada village in Dadri which has been thronged by leaders of various parties following the lynching incident. District Magistrate N P Singh has written to the SSP to provide women police force in the village as local women were causing law and order problems. The DM has directed that nobody should be allowed to meet the victim’s family members unless they give permission. “If they do not want to meet any visitor, visitors should not be allowed to go to the their house,” he said. The District Magistrate also directed surveillance of all visitors and steps to ensure that anti-social elements do not gain entry and disturb the peace. PTI