Dadri lynching: BJP MLA accuses SP government of shielding cow killers

Lucknow Political football over the Dadri lynching got murkier today with controversial BJP MLA Sangeet Som accused in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots attacking the SP government for shielding cow killers to appease MuslimsDisregarding prohibitory orders in force Som visited Dadri and addressed a public meeting asking Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to stop shedding crocodile tears while BJP lashed out at the CM for giving a communal colour to the incidentAs charges and countercharges of polarisation hotted up with an eye on the 2017 UP Assembly polls the Chief Minister met in Lucknow the family of 50yearold Ikhlaq who was lynched in Dadri over beef eating rumours assuring them of justiceAfter meeting victim Ikhlaqs family Akhilesh announced financial assistance to the family totalling Rs45 lakh Akhilesh said his Samajwadi Party will never do politics on the issue even as his government I could not go to the village Dadri and so I felt it would be appropriate if I meet them hereLucknowThe family is in a state of shockFamily members of Akhlaq who was lynched in Dadri with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister AKhilesh Yadav at his official residence in Lucknow on Sunday Pic PTINothing can make up for their loss We can share their grief but cannot erase the scene they witnessed he told reporters after meeting Ikhlaqs mother Asgari brother Mohammed Afzal and daughter Shaista Stirring the political cauldron Som said Like they SP had taken the accused in Muzaffarnagar riots in a plane they have taken those cow killers in a planeThe UP lawmakers remarks came even as BJP leader and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the incident should not be given communal colour or politicised It was an unfortunate incident But it is not proper to give communal colour to it he told reporters on the sidelines of a function in DelhiIqlakh was dragged out of his home by a 200strong mob and beaten to death after a public announcement from the local temple that the family had slaughtered a calf and eaten its meat on Monday night in Bishada village Congress attacked the BJP and the Narendra Modi government over the incident and said all progressive thinking people should stand up against itThis is a politcoideological 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 talkSo this is an issue on which all progressive liberal and right thinking need to stand together Congress leader Manish Tewari said Meanwhile police which has arrested eight persons detained a Home Guard for questioning after the local temple priest alleged that he forced him to make the announcementPolice had yesterday arrested two persons Vishal and Shivam One of them was reported to be the son of a local BJP leader However BJP leader Harish Thakur denied that the father of the accused was a BJP office bearer and said he may be a BJP supporterHitting out at the BJP JDU chief Sharad Yadav said incidents of communal violence have increased since the party came to power at the Centre Not a single day goes Yadav said when the so called Hindu organisations does not make disgusting comments that might lead to communal riots anytimeSince the present government came to power the incidents of communal riots are increasing due to their ideology which is not in consonance with the Constitution that provides a secular society The lynching of Mohammad Ikhlaq in Dadri over rumour that he ate beef was horrible and deplorable he said in a statementSom 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 communityThey want to do politics of appeasement which we will not allow the MLA said Questioning the arrests in the lynching case he said We dont want that those guilty of murder should not be tried but the government should stop framing the innocentAre terrorists living here Police should make arrests only after completing the investigation he said However Akhilesh dismissed criticism of the government Those doing politics can level any allegation but I want to assure that Samajwadis never do politics on such thingsSince SP government came to power there are some forces trying to create one or the other atmosphere he said Assuring all help for the victims son Danish 22 who was injured in the attack he said Best possible treatment will be ensured wherever the family wishesWe will also provide house complete security and if required job to one member of the family Tension prevailed in Bishada village in Dadri which has been thronged by leaders of various parties following the lynching incidentDistrict 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 victims family members unless they give permissionIf 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 antisocial elements do not gain entry and disturb the peace