Messaging key as Akhilesh meets Ansari kin today

The Samajwadi Party faces a dilemma called Mukhtar Ansari.

Ahead of party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s meeting with the late Mukhtar Ansari’s family in Ghazipur on Sunday, the leadership is mulling over how to employ the sentiment in the Muslim community. A section doesn’t see the Sunday visit as a oneoff private visit for commiseration. They say can generate counterpolarisation to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hindutva agenda, where all segments of society that are against the authoritarian ways of the current regime could join in, others feel making it part of the campaign could help the BJP in

it

furthering its divisive agenda.

The official cause of Mukhtar’s death in judicial custody was said to be cardiac arrest. However, the Ansari family suspects foul play.

A senior SP leader said Mukhtar’s “mysterious” death gave an impression of “a Statesponsored murder” and in their campaigns the party would continue to raise the issue of the safety of those undertrials who have been vocal critics of the present government. “Mukhtar was facing serious charges but only the courts should have decided his fate. We know the BJP would use it as yet another polarising tactic but, we will continue to ask why the U.P. CM provided a turncoat like Abhay Singh, considered to be the righthand man of Mukhtar, with Yplus security after he voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls.”

Mr. Singh is an MLA from Gosaiganj seat in Ayodhya and has several serious charges against him. “We will ask why this discrimination: security for Abhay and poison for Mukhtar,” the SP leader said.