A minister in the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has stirred controversy with a shocking statement, claiming he had assaulted seven police inspectors before reaching his current position.
“I did not reach here easily. I had to break the hands and legs of seven police inspectors and throw them into a ditch before I got here,” the minister said while addressing a public gathering.
A video of his statement has since gone viral on social media, though its authenticity remains unverified. Efforts to seek clarification from the minister have been unsuccessful.
The remarks were made by Dr Sanjay Nishad, a Cabinet Minister in the Yogi Adityanath-led government, while addressing a gathering in Lambhua, Sultanpur, during the Constitutional Rights Rath Yatra. During the event, a woman named Raghni Pradhan from Samokhpur village, accompanied by three to four others, approached the minister with a plea.
She informed him that her husband had been arrested in an assault case and was due to appear for an LLB examination on Thursday. She requested his intervention to secure his release. In response, Nishad made the controversial statement about his rise to power.
“I know everything-who is falsely implicating me. I will deal with them. I was born to fight for women and the poor. I have struggled to reach here. Seven police inspectors had their hands and legs broken and were thrown into a pit. Only then did I reach this position,” Nishad declared.
He further advised people to report injustices directly to him instead of waiting. “Many times, I only get to know about incidents after someone has been jailed. That is your mistake. Everyone has my mobile number and if not, you can find it on the internet. Just write to me about the injustice and I will act. I do not call any officer’s PA, I directly call the District Magistrate or Superintendent of Police. If I do not get a reply in five minutes, I complain to the Chief Minister.”
Nishad also emphasised that his community now has a voice. “Earlier, no one spoke up for the Nishads, but now you have the strength to do so. Speaking up is your right. This country runs by the Constitution. Your ancestors fought for its freedom,” he added.
The minister’s remarks have drawn sharp reactions, with critics questioning the appropriateness of such statements from a public representative. The matter is expected to trigger further political debates in the state.
During the same speech, the minister also commented on the Aurangzeb dispute, arguing that history should highlight the Mughal ruler’s cruelty. “What kind of tradition is it to celebrate cruelty and organize fairs around it? People learn ideals from fairs. In today’s times, no one names their son Aurangzeb,” he said, adding that the current government honours those who contribute to Indian civilisation. He further linked the recent Nagpur violence to those who consider Aurangzeb as their role model, stating, “The people who idolise Aurangzeb are responsible for this violence, and the public will answer them.”
The minister also took a swipe at political rivals, questioning whether they considered Aurangzeb or Lord Krishna as their ideal. Opposition parties are expected to react strongly to his remarks.
