Dadri lynching: BJP demands withdrawal of compensation paid to Akhlaq’s family
The BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Katiyar demanded the release of all those arrested in the case as he said there was no fault on their part.
BJP leader Vinay Katiyar on Thursday said it was a mistake by the UP government to provide compensation to Mohammed Akhlaq’s family.
With the report of the Forensic Investigation Lab in Mathura claiming that meat found at the residence of Mohammed Akhlaq, who was lynched by a mob in Dadri last September, was beef, BJP leader Vinay Katiyar on Thursday said it was a mistake on the Uttar Pradesh government’s part to provide ex-gratia to the former’s family and demanded that it should be taken back.
“It was being said from earlier that cow slaughter took place even when it is banned in the state. There was a lot of anger in the people living in that region following which this unfortunate incident of killing of Mohammad Akhlaq took place,” Katiyar told ANI.
“But what is more condemnable is that the Uttar Pradesh government gave ex-gratia to his (Akhlaq’s) family. It was a wrong act. They should take back the compensation provided. After all he was a criminal and providing him with ex-gratia was wrong,” he added.
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The BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP further demanded the release of all those arrested in this case as he said there was no fault on their part.
“The laboratory has confirmed that the meat, which was found, was beef. People like Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi should issue an apology before those who worship the holy cow,” he said.
Amid demands by the BJP to register a case of cow slaughter against Akhlaq’s family, the Congress has jumped in Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party’s defence backing the Uttar Pradesh government’s assertion on the authenticity of the report, which stated that the meat recovered from the spot of the Dadri lynching belonged to a “cow or its progeny”.
“The Chief Minister raising this question on the authenticity issued by a forensic lab in Mathura is correct. But there should be an enquiry in this regard. Why there are two separate reports on same issue?” Congress leader PL Punia told ANI.
Punia further said a preliminary report had earlier stated that prima-facie the meat belongs to goat progeny, adding this matter should be probed further.
“Now, the laboratory in Mathura says the meat found in Akhlaq’s home was of cow or its progeny. Why there are two reports in same case? The sample must have been sent by the Uttar Pradesh Police. The matter should be probed further if the Chief Minister is unaware of which sample had been sent or someone sent a separate sample in the lab,” he said, adding the judiciary should take a final call in this regard since the matter is being heard in the court.
Akhilesh had earlier questioned the authenticity of a report issued by a forensic lab in Mathura, saying nothing objectionable had been found at the residence of Akhlaq, who was beaten to death on September 28, 2015, following rumours of cow slaughter and beef consumption.
“Where was the sample sent? Who received it? There was nothing objectionable in his house. Every eye is on this matter. Everyone wants that the victim’s family should get justice as a murder has taken place,” he said.
The Chief Minister had, however, come under sharp criticism of the BJP leaders, including Yogi Adityanath and Keshav Prasad Maurya, post his observation on the matter as they accused him of ‘politically satisfying’ a particular constituency.
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