Day after Mukhtar Ansari's death, two former Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers Akhilesh Yadav, and Mayawati voiced concern on Friday. Samajwadi Party Chief and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav slammed the state government over the deteriorating law and order situation, calling it 'government anarchy'.
Listing circumstances that can "erode public confidence in the judicial process", Akhilesh, in an X post in Hindi, said, "It is the first responsibility and duty of the government to protect someone's life in every situation and at every place".
Leaders of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the gangster-turned-politician. They noted the gravity of the allegations raised by Ansari's family. BSP Chief Mayawati called for a "high-level investigation" into his death in jail, citing serious allegations raised by his family.
In an X post, Mayawati said, "The persistent apprehensions and serious allegations made by Mukhtar Ansari’s family regarding his death in jail require a high-level investigation so that the true facts of his death can be revealed. In such a situation, it is natural for his family to be sad. May nature give them the strength to bear this sorrow."
Echoing similar sentiments, BSP leader Akash Anand, also Mayawati's nephew, expressed shock over Ansari's death and criticised the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh. Anand said, "Shocked by the news of the death of former MLA Mukhtar Ansari. The condition of law and order in UP is very bad. Murder in jail in police custody, murder in court, murder in hospital and now the suspicious death of Mukhtar Ansari raise serious questions on the working style of the administration."
Mukhtar Ansari Death: Serious Allegations By Family
Following Ansari's demise due to cardiac arrest, his son Umar Ansari alleged foul play, claiming that his father was poisoned. Umar Ansari affirmed their intention to seek legal recourse through the judiciary, expressing confidence in the process.
"We have full faith in it," he asserted, revealing that the family learned about Ansari's condition through the media, raising concerns over the lack of official communication from the administration.
READ | 'My Father Was Given Slow Poison': Son Umar On Mukhtar Ansari's Death
Providing details about the events leading to Ansari's death, Umar Ansari disclosed that his father had accused authorities of poisoning him during dinner on March 19.
Meanwhile, Mukhtar Ansari's body has been transferred to Banda Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. Hospital authorities revealed that Ansari was admitted around 8:25 PM, with a team of nine doctors attending to him before his demise.
Ansari, a five-time MLA from the Mau assembly seat, held significant influence in Ghazipur, his hometown. His legal troubles included a conviction in April 2023 for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, resulting in a 10-year prison sentence. Additionally, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on March 13, 2024, in a case related to the use of forged documents to obtain an arms licence in 1990.