A day after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met the family of a BJP worker who was allegedly injured in a police lathicharge in the Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav Tuesday accused the Yogi government of pressuring the bereaved family to change their stance.
On September 9, BJP worker Siyaram Upadhyay (35) was injured after police allegedly used lathicharge against around 20-25 people who were sitting on a dharna outside the Nonhara police station against the installation of an electricity pole in the area. Upadhyay died during treatment on September 11. Six policemen were suspended while five were taken off active duty following the incident.
CM Adityanath met the family members of Upadhyay in Lucknow and assured them of strict action against those found guilty in the matter. The family expressed satisfaction with the ongoing investigation.
However, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the Yogi government of pressuring the bereaved family to change their stance. In a post on the social media platform X, Akhilesh Yadav wrote, “The BJP government’s counseling is nothing but intimidation.”
He further claimed that, “In Uttar Pradesh, compromises are being forced in high-profile cases, while ordinary people are being summoned to the court and threatened. Statements given just a day earlier are being reversed under pressure. Those who openly oppose the government today are rounded up and taken to centres of power the next day.”
Akhilesh also alleged that after creating pressure, the government offers false assurances like ‘everything will be arranged’. “White lies are being spoken at white tables. Can any arrangement or compromise bring back someone’s life?” he asked.
He further alleged that the problems of people in Uttar Pradesh are not being resolved; instead, the poor, the deprived, and the oppressed are being suppressed and exploited. Only when the BJP goes will the justice prevail !”
MLC Vishal Singh Chanchal accompanied the family of the deceased Siyarām Upadhyay to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Chief Minister assured that strict action would be taken against the guilty once the investigation is completed. Chanchal, accompanied by the victim’s father and brother, briefed the Chief Minister about the incident.
Earlier, on Sunday, Rakesh Trivedi (in charge), district president Omprakash Rai, and former district president Bhanupratap Singh met the Chief Minister at his residence to brief him about the incident.
District BJP president Rai stated that the entire incident had been conveyed to the Chief Minister. After reviewing the case, the Chief Minister affirmed that both the party organisation and the government stand firmly with the bereaved family during this difficult time.
He added, “Every party worker will stand with the grieving family in their moments of sorrow and support them. A fair investigation will be conducted, and hence the incident at Nonhara will be probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).”