'It's Murder, Govt-Sponsored Riot': Opposition Blasts BJP As Mosque Survey Turns Deadly In Sambhal

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, AAP's Sanjay Singh and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government instigated the violence to divert attention from other issues.

Seven FIRs have been lodged in connection with the violence.

Source : PTI

Opposition leaders came down heavily on the administration in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal where four people died and scores of others were injured during protests over a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque. Terming the incident as murder, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi demanded a court-monitored inquiry. The development in Sambhal comes at the same time when all MPs reached Delhi to attend the first day of Parliament's Winter Session.

"The mosque in Sambhal is not 50-100 years old, it is more than 250-300 years old and the court passed an ex parte order without listening to the people of the mosque which is wrong...When the second survey was done no information was given...The video of the survey which people are claiming is in the public domain shows provocative slogans were raised by the people who came for the survey," he said.

"This is not firing but murder...The officers involved should be suspended and a sitting high court should inquire that it is totally wrong, atrocities are happening there," Owaisi told reporters outside Parliament.

#WATCH | Delhi: On the Sambhal stone pelting incident, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says "The mosque in Sambhal is not 50-100 years old, it is more than 250-300 years old and the court passed an ex parte order without listening to the people of the mosque which is wrong... When… pic.twitter.com/YsSEunueOw

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024

UP Govt Instigated Violence: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, AAP's Sanjay Singh and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government instigated the violence to divert attention from other issues. He also questioned the FIR filed against his party MP Zia-ur-Rehman, who has been accused of instigating riots.

"Our MP Zia-ur-Rehman 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 and administration reached the Jama Masjid for survey." Yadav asked who gave this order to the local administration. "Five innocent people died. The people who filed the petition along with the people of police and administration are responsible for spoiling the atmosphere of Sambhal." He demanded the suspension of police and administration officials.

#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

Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav also demanded that a murder case be registered against those who fired the bullets. He alleged that the District Magistrate and SP are responsible for it.

Seven FIRs have been lodged in connection with the violence, Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar said. Six people, including Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and local SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood's son Sohail Iqbal, were named and 2,750 others have been mentioned as unidentified, he said.

"Due to Barq's statement earlier, the situation became worse here," he added.

'Police Have Been Transformed Into Goons'

Tejashwi Yadav accused the state government of misusing the police. "Police have been transformed into goons, this is very unfortunate...BJP is not only spreading hatred, these people want to break the country by any means, that is why all of us are united, we know their design of hatred, if anyone makes such an attempt in Bihar, then we will not sit quietly," he said.

"A survey was conducted in Kashi, Mathura and how is the survey being conducted here in Sambhal? A court order is being issued in an hour. A team is arriving to conduct the survey in an hour and a half. You have chosen Uttar Pradesh to create a ruckus, to throw it into the fire of hatred," Sanjay Singh said.

#WATCH | On Sambhal stone pelting incident, AAP MP Sanjay Singh says "The violence in Sambhal is sponsored by BJP and the government. A survey was conducted in Kashi, Mathura and how is the survey being conducted here in Sambhal? A court order is being issued in an hour. A team… pic.twitter.com/l7PNP0CneJ

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024