Even when the Uttar Pradesh government has denied that the Bharatiya Janata Party has nothing to do with the heroic welcome accorded to six accused in the killing of a police inspector during a violence in Bulandshahr, Samajwadi Party hit out at the ruling party for trying to glorify the accused.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the welcome accorded to the accused indicated the state of affairs in UP and how law and order was working in the state.
“When criminals are glorified and given rousing welcome after their release from jail, what message does it send to the people?” he asked.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that the BJP had nothing to do with the welcome accorded to the six accused and asked the opposition to desist from exaggerating the matter.
Key accused, including Shikhar Agarwal who is associated with the BJP youth wing and Jeetu Fauji were released after being granted bail. Family members and supporters of the six accused garlanded them outside the jail amidst chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’, ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ on their release on Sunday.
“If supporters of someone being released from jail welcome them, the government and the BJP has nothing to do with it. The opposition must not make a mountain out of a mole hill,” Maurya said.
A video of the accused being welcomed in a grand manner went viral on social media and attracted severe criticism from netizens. In the video, Shikhar Agarwal and Jeetu Fauji are seen being garlanded by their supporters amid cheers. Several people also took turns to take selfies with the accused.
On December 3, Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh was killed in a mob violence after cattle carcasses were found at Mahaw village in Bulandshahr. Around 30 people were arrested in connection with the violence.