Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday condemned the “go to Pakistan” remark made purportedly by a police official in Meerut during protests against the amended citizenship law, terming it as “unfortunate“.
The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh also demanded a probe against police personnel involved in such incidents.
In a tweet on Sunday, Mayawati said, “The Muslims who are living in Uttar Pradesh, and in the country are Indians, and not Pakistanis. During the CAA/NRC protests, the communal language used and comments made are extremely condemnable and unfortunate.”
In another tweet, she said, “In such a scenario, a high-level judicial probe of all the police personnel should be done and they should be expelled from duty, if charges against them are found to be true. This is the demand of BSP.”
A row has erupted after a video showed a top police officer in Meerut saying protesters against the new citizenship law can “go to Pakistan”, drawing sharp criticism from various quarters with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of infusing “communal poison” in institutions.
The incident purportedly took place on December 20 in Lisari Gate police station area, when Meerut Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Narayan Singh was speaking to some locals in a narrow lane after violent protests and clashes in the city last week that left five people dead.
The SP (City) however, said he made the remark for people shouting slogans in support of Pakistan during the protest. “I advised them to go to the place in support of which they were raising slogans.”
ADG Meerut Zone Prashant Kumar had said the incident occurred on December 20 following protests in the city. Some people were raising pro-Pakistan slogans and distributing objectionable pamphlets in support of Popular Front of India and Social Democratic Party of India, he said.
The ADG said after receiving information about the slogan-shouting, the SP (City) and the SDM City went to the spot and told the people that they could leave if they wanted to.
He said the video, which triggered a controversy, was part of a conspiracy as it was being circulated a week after the incident and when the situation was turning peaceful in the area.
Five people were killed in violence in Meerut during protests against the amended citizenship law. Protesters had set over two dozen police vehicles on fire and pelted stones.