EVEN as the victims of Friday’s riots in the Old City struggled at the hospital, Leader of Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Lalji Tandon of BJP attempted to make political capital out of it and alleged that the riots were planned to attack a particular community which had nothing to do with the anti-Bush protests.
He told reporters on Saturday that, ‘‘The Mulayam Singh led government has failed to protect the people.” He, however, had no reply when pointed out that those admitted at the KGMU’s trauma centre were not of the community he was claiming to have been targetted. ‘‘They may be the ones who were shooting at others,’’ Tandon said.
Alleging the Mulayam government of patronising the rioters, Tandon said two religious leaders were promoting these actions and were in regular contact with Mulayam Singh Yadav. ‘‘I would not like to name anyone but there are two people who always incite the mob. But this is the first time that the riots took a communal colour in the city.’’
Terming it as the bidaai samaroh (farewell ceremony) of the Mulayam Singh government, Tandon said whenever the SP government’s term was coming to an end, riots occur. ‘‘The SP patronises such elements to form their government and when the government is shaky, they make this show of power.’’
He claimed the bandh call by the BJP was successful as the people came out in anguish. But when he was told that the riot victims had to suffer because even the chemist shops were closed, he said he never asked them to close down. ‘‘The administration has failed to control the riots. No official could be contacted when the incidents were happening and after I asked the DGP to impose curfew that the police was able to bring the situation under control,’’ he claimed. Interestingly, curfew has not been imposed.
Meanwhile, state BJP president Kesarinath Tripathi appealed the people to maintain peace and communal harmony. ‘‘It is very unethical for the Chief Minister to organise a meet opposing the arrival of a US President in the country, who is our guest. To promote harmony in the state, it is important to promote ‘Udaarpanthi’ (open-mindedness), but such acts of the party will only promote communal disturbances.’’
CPI (M) condemns police, admn
In a press released issued by Communist Party of India (Marxist), Uttar Pradesh, the party criticised the police and state administration for the Friday’s violence in Lucknow. A fact finding committee was constituted which included CPI(M), Janvadi Mahila Samiti and Naujawan Sabha members and in their report they held the police and state administration responsible for the negligience which allowed the violence to continue for three hours. The committee demanded stern action against the policemen and have further asked for medicines and compensation for the injured. —ENS/ Lucknow
One more hurt, SSP deploys force in Old city
A youth was severely beaten up by unidentified persons at the Kaiserbagh crossing, while he was returning home on Saturday morning. According to reports, Mohammad Shakeel (27) of Barood Khana locality received severe injuries, when a group of people suddenly attacked him with sticks and rods. He was rushed to Trauma Centre by the police.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate RN Tripathi and Lucknow SSP Ashutosh Pandey addressed a joint press meet at the Kaiserbagh Police station, where they stated that since new victims are coming, proper listing would be done for compensation. The SSP refused to to consider the incident as an LIU lapse and said that heavy police force has been deployed in the area.
SP City transferred
The state government has removed Additional SP City (West) Umesh Chandra Srivastava from his post with a immediate effect on Saturday. He has been asked to join 45th Battalion PAC, Aligarh as Deputy Commandant.