Lucknow: “Is it not true that this [violence in Sambhal] happened because of the internal fight between desi and foreign Muslims,” Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Monday, responding to a blistering attack by the Opposition which targeted his government over communal tensions that erupted in Bahraich in October and in Sambhal last month.
Speaking on the first day of the Winter Session of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Yogi claimed 209 Hindus were killed in communal riots in Sambhal since 1947, but the Opposition never condoled with their families. He also spoke at length about reopening of a temple in Sambhal, insertion of the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ in the Preamble of the Constitution and charges by Samajwadi Party of irregularities in the Kundarki bypoll.
On the deaths of four youngsters during a protest against a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal on 24 November, the chief minister dismissed the allegation that those accompanying the survey team chanted the slogan ‘Jai Shree Ram’ to provoke the Muslim community. “We say ‘Ram Ram’ when we meet someone, and at the time of death we say ‘Ram Naam Satya’ … and if someone says ‘Jai Shree Ram’, what is the objection to it? The intention is not to tease,” he said.
He remarked, “Is it not true that in the time of digital media, the Pathans and Sikhs are saying that our ancestors were Hindus? and even yours … is it not true that this [Sambhal violence] happened because of the internal fight between the desi and foreign Muslims?”
Responding to remarks made by Mata Prasad Pandey, the Leader of the Opposition, he said, “You were born in Brahmin lineage and believe in the Puranas. Puranas say Vishnu’s 10th incarnation will happen in Sambhal.”
The chief minister went on to say that the violence in Sambhal was a result of statements made ‘from the masjid during the jumma namaaz [Friday prayers]’.
Claiming 209 Hindus were killed in communal violence in Sambhal since 1947, Yogi spoke about the death of a moneylender from the Vaishya community whose hands, he said, were cut off during a riot in 1978. “They said that it was because he could ask for his money, so they cut his hands, cut his legs and then his neck … these people talk about harmony, don’t they feel ashamed to talk about communal harmony?”
On the reopening of an “ancient temple” in Sambhal, which the district administration claims to have stumbled upon during a drive to curb power theft, Yogi alleged the temple could not be opened since 1978 owing to pressure from the local Muslim community.
He then reiterated that “not a single person” who was part of the mob that pelted stones at police personnel during the survey on 24 November would be spared.
Adityanath also urged the Opposition to read the original version of the Preamble to the Constitution, which did not carry the words ‘socialist’ or ‘secular’.
Both were inserted through the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976.
Stating that the original copy of the Constitution carried images of the Hindu deities Ram and Krishna, he added, “… but that basic Constitution does not mention the words ‘dharma-nirpeksh,’ ‘panth-nirpeksh’ or ‘samajwad’. And this should open your eyes. You are talking about changes in the Constitution even as you have been following those who changed the Constitution … you want to grab power and throw dust into the public’s eyes?”
“… we believe only in Ram and Krishna and have faith in Buddha. We consider him an ideal and work accordingly,” said the chief minister.
Also Read: Sambhal: A history of violence
Sambhal admin at fault: Oppn
Leading the Opposition’s charge, Sambhal MLA Iqbal Mehmood of the Samajwadi Party alleged the violence was orchestrated by BJP to cause a distraction following the “loot of votes” during Kundarki and other bypolls.
Mehmood said that Zia Ur Rehman Barq, the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal booked in connection with the violence, was in Bengaluru on 24 November. He also claimed that his son, also named in an FIR, was also “not present at the spot”.
“As many as 2,700 people were named and harassed. Police pulled out people from their houses and beat them up badly. Several were named later on. This happened because officials in Sambhal are new and this is their first posting and they have no experience and because everything was controlled from Lucknow headquarters,” he said.
“We [Muslims] are being targeted, slogans are raised to provoke us, but we won’t be provoked. We will continue to work for the nation’s development. It has been our duty, but we are being looked at with suspicion,” he added.
The violence, he said, was not a “Hindu vs Muslim” fight, but was a result of the actions of the local administration. Mehmood also spoke about the “ancient temple”.
“When it was opened, the idols were found lying the same way, no idol was found broken. Those who stay there said only 25-30 people [Hindus] are there while the rest are Muslims who did not trouble them, but they left the area because they were nervous. They did not leave Sambhal, they remained in Sambhal, they have given a statement to the DM and the public that nobody drove them out,” the Samajwadi Party legislator said.
Also Read: How Yogi visit & 2018 Waqf ‘notice’ prompted demands for demolition of masjid on UP college premises
