Lucknow: Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday questioned the house arrest of leader of opposition Mata Prasad Pandey and members of the delegation who were scheduled to leave for Sambhal to meet the families of those killed in the violence.
Akhilesh Yadav has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh of destroying democratic values and adopting dictatorial practices. Yadav alleged that the state is experiencing an "emergency-like situation" under the BJP regime, with rampant injustice and atrocities.
The SP chief also announced financial aid of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the innocent individuals killed in the Sambhal violence and demanded that the BJP government provide Rs 25 lakh in compensation to each victim's family. Calling for justice, Yadav urged the suspension and legal prosecution of administrative officials in Sambhal for negligence.
Expressing strong disapproval, Yadav criticized the house arrest of SP leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition in both the Assembly and Legislative Council, along with SP state president Shyam Lal Pal and MLA Ravidas Mehrotra, under government directives.
"The BJP government is suppressing dissent by confining SP leaders to their homes to prevent them from reaching Sambhal," he said, accusing the administration of fearing public outrage and attempting to hide its misdeeds.
The district magistrate of Sambhal recently imposed restrictions prohibiting the entry of outsiders and public representatives without prior permission until December 10, 2024. Yadav condemned this move as evidence of administrative failure, blaming the government for the unrest in Sambhal. He questioned, "If the restrictions are specific to Sambhal, why are SP leaders across the state confined to their homes? Is this an undeclared emergency?"
He further criticized the BJP for prioritizing divisive politics over public welfare and called on the President and Supreme Court to ensure justice and hold the perpetrators accountable for disrupting communal harmony in the region.
A 15-member delegation led by LOP Mata Prasad Pandey was to visit Sambhal to investigate the recent violence in the region.
The team was mandated to gather comprehensive details about the incident and submit a report to the SP chief.
The delegation was also tasked with meeting local authorities, gathering facts, and ensuring that the justice prevails.