BJP blames oppn for violence, reaches out to clerics

LUCKNOW : Blaming opposition parties for the violence during anti-CAA protests across Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Swatantra Dev Singh on Friday reached out to Shia clerics in the state capital.

On Thursday, violence had erupted during the protests in Lucknow, claiming one life.

The administration and police reached out to clerics so as to send an appeal for peace.

The efforts were apparently successful in Lucknow, but several others districts saw a violent Friday.

On Friday evening, Singh met Shia cleric Kalbe Jawad and other clerics in Lucknow and appealed to spread the message of peace, especially on the issue of CAA and NRC.

Singh said, “The violence is being incited by Samajwadi party, Bahujan Samaj Party and

Congress across the state for political gains. NRC or CAA is neither anti-Muslim nor antisociety but in favour of persecuted minority in three countries,” he added.

“Opposition parties and some people are giving it a communal colour just to defame the government and create trouble in the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kalbe Jawad also termed the violence as loss for Muslims.

“Such protests are never going to benefit Muslims by any chance. Some some political parties, who are instigating Muslims, will benefit.”

“There may be some doubts but violence is not the way out. People can talk and discuss things. Rushing out on the streets and resorting to violence is not a solution,” he said, while appealing to the community to maintain peace.