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The alleged attack on Dalits and vandalisation of their houses in Azamgarh gave fresh ammunition to opposition parties to attack the Yogi Adityanath government, accusing it of working against the weaker sections of society. While senior leaders issued statements against the government, a delegation of Congress and Samajwadi Party met the protesting women and assured them of all support in their quest for justice.
On Tuesday, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati had questioned the Uttar Pradesh government over atrocities on Dalits at Palia village in Azamgarh district by the police.
In tweets, Mayawati said," Instead of giving justice to the Dalit victims of Palia village, the Azamgarh police harassed and committed atrocities on them on the direction of some people, which is a shameful act. The government should take immediate cognisance of this incident and initiate strict action against the culprits and compensate the victims financially."
The BSP chief also said, ‘Witnessing the seriousness of this incident of harassment of Dalits by the oppressors and the police, a delegation of the BSP under the leadership of party senior leader Gaya Charan Dinkar, former MLA, will visit the village soon to meet the victims."
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday had also hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government's “anti-Dalit mentality”, claiming that she had received information about a police attack on Dalit families in a village in Azamgarh district in connection with an incident that occurred on June 29.
"There is news of police attacking Dalit families in Palia village of Azamgarh, Raunapar. Several houses were demolished, hundreds were booked. This shows the anti-Dalit mentality of the government employees. Immediate action should be taken against the culprits and compensation should be given to the victims," said Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in a tweet.
Azad Samaj Party (ASP) chief Chandrashekhar Azad, while condemning the incident, announced that he would visit the village and meet the victims on July 19.
The ASP wrote, "The demolition done at the house of Munna Pasiji, head of village Palia, district Azamgarh, is a proof of the anti-Dalit mentality of the administration."
"Yogi ji, Dalit society will not forget the atrocities committed by your police on them. I am coming to Azamgarh on July 19 to meet the victim's family to get them justice," Chandrashekhar added.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police of Azamgarh, Sudhir Kumar Singh, said a case had been registered against 11 named people and 135 unidentified people. He denied charges leveled on men in uniform and claimed that instead, the cops were attacked and efforts were on to nab the accused.