'Orchestrated by government': Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sambhal violence

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday alleged that the violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district over the survey of a mosque was instigated by the state government to divert attention from electoral malpractice.
"From all the videos we have, we know it was a riot orchestrated by the government. The government was looting votes. They did riot in Sambhal because they did not want to get caught," Akhilesh said while talking to reporters.
"Some people say that after watching 'The Sabarmati Report' movie, some BJP leaders thought that they also want to become a big leader and have gotten this done (in Sambhal)," he said referring to the movie based on the Godhra incident.
On Police lodging FIR against Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and local SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood's son Sohail Iqbal as accused, the SP chief claimed, "Our MP Zia ur Rahman was not even in Sambhal during the incident, and despite that, an FIR was lodged against him."

Yadav further attacked the role of administration. "Right after the Court passed the order on November 19, 2024, police and administration reached Jama Masjid and all people cooperated with them. On November 23, police administration said that a second survey would be conducted the next morning. My question is who gave the order to police administration to conduct the second survey?"

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Akhilesh further said, "The people still kept patience but when they wanted to know the reason for second survey, the Circle Officer started abusing them and did a lathi charge. People also started protesting and pelted stones, in return, the police fired bullets."

Yadav had also sought action against those people he believes are responsible for the incident by saying, "The people who filed the petition and the police officers and administration responsible for this should be suspended for spoiling the atmosphere of Sambhal. A murder case should also be filed against them so that the people who were innocent can get justice, and in the future, no one can commit any such illegal incidents against the Constitution."

clashes between protesters opposing the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid and police personnel on Sunday left three people dead and several others, including security personnel and officials, injured. A fourth injured person died on Monday.

Tension in the area has been building up since November 19 when the Jama Masjid was first surveyed on court orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site.

District officials said the survey could not be completed on Tuesday and is planned for Sunday to avoid disrupting afternoon prayers.

The stone-pelting took place in Sambhal on Sunday when an ASI team went to the local Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct fresh survey of the mosque after the court orders. A petition was filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple, and this had initiated the legal process.

Apparently, the survey that took place in the presence of police was said to have been calm until a crowd began stone-throwing at the survey team and security personnel.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Sambhal stone pelting incident, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav says "Our MP Zia ur Rahman was not even in Sambhal and despite that an FIR was lodged against him...This is a riot done by the government...Right after the order was passed by the Court, police… pic.twitter.com/qwPGtpho1m — ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024