SP fields cow smuggler for block pramukh post, BJP hits back

Prayagraj: As the political stage in Uttar Pradesh is set for another grassroots election on July 10, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has upped its ante against Samajwadi Party (SP) for fielding a cow smuggler from Kaurihar block of the district.
Senior BJP leader Ashish Gupta told TOI on Friday, “At a time when the Yogi-led state government has been opening gaushalas and other projects for the protection of cows, SP has fielded Mohd Muzaffar for the post of block pramukh from Kaurihar block... SP is banking on goons to contest the block pramukh polls and gundagardi (hooliganism) is their identification.”
Gupta said rival camps, particularly SP, have lost their cool after seeing a series of development works and projects being carried out by the BJP-led state government.
He said, “Samajwadi Party is loosing janadhar (mass base) in UP. The real face of SP has been exposed since it has made a man with vast criminal record, including cases of cow smuggling, as its candidate for block pramukh polls.”
However, SP district spokesman Daan Bahadur “Madhur” said cases against the party candidate are “politically motivated”. BJP has been crying foul after sensing its defeat in block pramukh polls, he said.
Madhur said, “BJP has been levelling false allegations on party candidate but it’s the court which will only decide if charges are true or not. BJP is only misusing its power.”
Puramufti police of Prayagraj district has slapped a case under Gangster Act against Muzaffar and 13 of his close associates on the charges of cow smuggling. Before the police could nab him, he managed to surrender in a local court and was sent behind the bars.
A senior cop said over a dozen criminal cases were registered against Muzaffar in different districts of the range, including Prayagraj, Kaushambi and Fatehpur.