Lucknow/Ayodhya: Samajwadi Party MP from Ambedkarnagar Lalji Verma on Tuesday accused the police and district administration of "intimidating SP supporters and pressuring them to refrain from voting".
He also announced his decision to decline additional personal security offered by the police, citing "complete loss of trust in the force".
In a letter to superintendent of police, Ambedkarnagar, Kaustubh, Verma alleged that the police were intimidating voters from the Muslim, Yadav, and Kurmi communities by issuing "red notices" and pressuring them to refrain from voting. "These actions are creating fear among minority voters to benefit the BJP, which is a threat to democracy," he said, adding that instead of curbing these activities, the police were intensifying them.
Responding to the MP's letter, the police department wrote to the Election Commission.
Senior officers in the police department explained the purpose and process of issuing red cards during the assembly byelection in Katehari constituency.
According to officials, red cards have been issued to 2,565 people based on reports from various police stations to ensure peaceful and inducement-free voting under preventive measures outlined in Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Responding to Verma's claim of declining security, police said that Verma as well as the candidate, Shobhavati Verma, were being provided security cover since Oct.
However, Verma was found carrying a licensed weapon during the election, a violation caught during checks, with video evidence submitted to the chief electoral officer.
The police emphasized their commitment to maintaining law and order during the electoral process. The controversy arose after a tweet by Lalji Verma, alleging bias in issuing red cards, specifically targeting SP supporters. Police refuted the claim, stating that red cards were issued irrespective of political affiliations, focusing instead on individuals with potential criminal tendencies.