Dadri lynching: BJP MLA Sangeet Som questions arrests, says Samajwadi Party appeasing minority

Stirring the political cauldron, controversial BJP MLA Sangeet Som on Sunday visited Dadri where he attacked Samajwadi Party government, alleging it was appeasing the minority community and innocent people were being framed for lynching of a man over beef eating rumour.

Som, who was accused of making inflammatory speeches during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar communal riots, alleged that state government was acting in a biased manner like it did during violence in western Uttar Pradesh two years ago and was shielding those who had "slaughtered cow".

"Like they had taken the accused in Muzaffarnagar riots in a plane, they have taken those who have slaughtered cow in a plane. Even when a person is killed, they have different set of rules. Sanjay Rahul Yadav was shot in the incident, but is anyone aware. Did the government help him," Som told reporters as the victim Ikhlaq's family met Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow on Sunday.

The UP lawmaker's remarks came even as BJP leader and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the incident should not be given communal colour or politicised. Som questioned why the state government had allowed AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi to visit the village and spread "communal frenzy".

"A person like Owaisi was allowed to come here from Hyderabad. Is the Samajwadi Party government colluding with him? A person from Hyderabad comes and is able to make such statements. Is it not the weakness of the government? This government is trying to appease a particular community," the MLA said.

Questioning the arrests in the lynching case, he said, "We don't want that those guilty of murder should not be tried but the government should stop framing the innocent.

"Murder cases are on the rise in the state but is the government acting in the same manner in those cases. Are terrorists living here? Police should make arrests only after completing the investigation," the MLA said.

Iqlakh, 50, was dragged out of his home and stoned to death on a village street after a public announcement from the local temple that the family had slaughtered a calf and eaten its meat. While Iqlakh died, his 22-year-old son Danish is battling for life at a hospital following two brain surgeries.

Police have arrested eight persons and detained a Home Guard for questioning after the local temple priest alleged that he forced him to make the announcement. Police had yesterday two persons -- Vishal and Shivam.

One of them was reported to be the son of a local BJP leader. However, BJP leader Harish Thakur denied that the father of the accused was a BJP office bearer and said he may be a BJP supporter.

Meanwhile, Congress attacked the BJP and its government at the Centre over the incident and said all progressive thinking people should stand up against it.

"This is a politco-ideological murder. There are some people who are trying to change the narrative of the country. They want that the minority should be second grade citizens....The Government wants to dictate as to what people should eat, what people should wear, how people should talk. So this is an issue on which all progressive, liberal and right thinking need to stand together," Congress leader Manish Tewari said.