Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party regime at the Centre, accusing it of not bringing a stringent pan-India legislation to check growing cases of mob lynching.
In a statement issued in Lucknow on Saturday, Mayawati said, “Mob lynching has emerged as a bhayanak bimari (dreadful disease) across the country. The loss of lives in it is a matter of serious concern. In this regard, there is a strong need for a stringent countrywide law, but the Centre’s approach towards it has been lackadaisical.”
Taking to Twitter, the former chief minister of UP praised UP Law Commission’s initiative on checking mob lynching.
After the Supreme Court’s directive, the Central government should have by now made a strong law against mob lynching. But as in the case of Lokpal, the Centre seems disinterested and is proving to be a government with low will power. In such a situation, the initiative taken by UP Law Commission by recommending life imprisonment for mob lynching is a welcome move, Mayawati tweeted.
On Wednesday, taking cognisance of incidents of mob lynching, including those by cow vigilantes, Uttar Pradesh Law Commission had submitted a report to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, suggesting ways to check such incidents in the state and had recommended life imprisonment along with heavy fine for the crime.
Mayawati further blamed the BJP’s policy and intent’ for the rising cases of mob lynching in the country.
“The reason for mob lynching emerging as a terrible disease in the country is the intention and policy of the BJP government to not establish a rule of law. Because of this, not only Dalits, tribals and religious minorities but also people of society and even policemen are becoming victims of the same,” Mayawati alleged.
“In this situation, the submission of a draft bill by UP Law Commission, recommending up to life imprisonment for the crime is welcome,” she added.
The UP Law Commission has recommended that accused in mob lynching incidents be handed life imprisonment if the victim loses life.
Giving a piece of advice to the BJP, Mayawati said, “Along with drafting strong laws, the BJP will have to develop a strong will power like the BSP, to strictly enforce the laws. Only then will this disease will be curbed.”
