With local administration failing to handle the growing resentment with the members of two castes during former UP Chief Minister Mayawati’s visit to the district on last Tuesday resulting in one causality, the State Government acted more cautiously on Friday by refusing permission to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to strife-torn district on Saturday.
Rahul Gandhi had already announced his visit to Sabbirpur village in Saharanpur along with some party leaders to take first hand account of ordeal with the family members of the victims on Saturday.
Additional Director General, law and order, Aditya Mishra, who is camping in Saharanpur along with three other senior officials of the State Government to maintain peace, said that they gave no permission to the Congress leader to visit the town. Congress sources however, said that Congress vice-president has not yet decided to postpone his visit.
“We have informed the Saharanpur local authorities about the proposed visit of the Congress leaders and we expect that they will allow us. There is no official communication from the Saharanpur district authorities yet about the refusal,” Congress MlC Deepak Singh claimed.
He said that the party would co-operate with the local authorities in maintaining peace but it is surprising that the BJP Government does not want visit of any leader as it would expose the reality and failure of the Yogi Adityanath’s Government in maintaining peace and forwarding justice to the Dalits and poor section of the society.
Singh said that to conceal the truth from coming out of Saharanpur, the local administration had already banned the internet and social sites in the district besides refusing entry to other party leaders.
However, senior officials in the State Capital said that the Saharanpur district authorities had earlier announced not to allow any politician to visit the trouble-torn areas after violence broke out following the visit of Mayawati at Sabbirpur village on Tuesday last.
Meanwhile, sources confirmed that Aditya Mishra along with home secretary, Mani Prasad Mishra, and other officers were visiting houses to ensure sense of security among the people. Interestingly, they also offered apology on behalf of the Government and claimed that they were send to restore peace and they need everyone’s cooperation.