Oppn calls Yogi govt ‘biased, insensitive’

LUCKNOW: The political temperature is rising over the Kasganj communal violence. While the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) affiliate, announced more ‘Tiranga Yatras’ in west UP, the Opposition eyed a counter narrative, terming the BJP government “biased and insensitive”.

Amid mushrooming videos since the Republic Day flare-up swaying opinions on either side, the Samajwadi Party (Sp)-led Opposition looked to embarrass chief minister Adityanath on the first communal violence under the 10-month-old BJP regime.

The Congress rushed a delegation to Kasganj on a ‘fact-finding’ mission on Wednesday.

The delegation wasn’t allowed in by the police, who are still grappling to bring normality in a region that has continued to witness stray acts of arson since January 26.

“I fail to understand why politicians start visiting a troubled region. It’s standard practice for all political parties when they are in the opposition,” an officer said.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has said he will visit the region once normality resumes.

But, he tweeted a cutting of a vernacular daily showing some BJP leaders laughing during a condolence meeting organised in Meerut for Abhishek alias Chandan Gupta, 23, who was killed in the clashes.

“Yeh hai inki nirlajj samvedanheenta ka khilkhilata chehra. Kisi ke itne dukhad kshano main aisa vyavahar ati nindaniya hai (this is the true face of their insensitivity. Such gesture in someone’s grief is condemnable),” Yadav said in his tweet targeted at painting the BJP as insensitive.

Yadav’s tweet had a context. Two days after the clashes broke out in Kasganj, three BJP lawmakers were seen attending a music concert barely 32km away from Kasganj, sparking outrage both within the BJP and outside.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati chose to hit out at the saffron party by advising its leaders to learn a lesson from Sant Ravidas, a Dalit saint whose birth anniversary was observed on Wednesday.