Fallout of alleged assault on Dalit official could unite opposition
UP Chief Minister Mayawati's decision to deal sternly with a Congress MLA's alleged manhandling of a Dalit official in Muzaffarnagar could lead opposition parties, many of whom have alleged political harassment by the government, to unite against ...
By PTI |
LUCKNOW: UP Chief Minister Mayawati's decision to deal sternly with a Congress MLA's alleged manhandling of a Dalit official in Muzaffarnagar could lead opposition parties, many of whom have alleged political harassment by the government, to unite against the ruling BSP.
Almost all major opposition parties have condemned the BSP government's move to frame charges under the SC/ST act against the MLA and their respective units in the district have decided to hold a joint rally there on January 22.
"The Samajwadi Party had been voicing its concern over harassment of political workers ever since this government came to power and the incident involving congress MLA, Pankaj Mallick further proves as to how the chief minister is out to settle political scores," SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said.
The district units of SP, Congress, BJP and the Rashtriya Lok Dal and Mahendra Singh Tikait's Bhartiya Kisan Union have come together on one platform in condemning the government's actions and held a meeting on Friday and Saturday to launch a formal joint protest, Chaudhary said.
"The SP chief by asking the Congress and BJP of extending cooperation in dealing with the government on people's issues has already taken an initiative and this could well mark the beginning of opposition parties joining flanks against oppression of its political leaders and workers," he said.
Senior BJP leader Hukum Singh said although his party had not decided to formally join the agitation in Muzaffarnagar, it would not stop its workers from taking part as the incident has now taken the shape of a "people's issue".
The government should handle the issue carefully and order an inquiry by some senior official before initiating any action or else it could result in caste clash in western Uttar Pradesh, Singh said.
Almost all major opposition parties have condemned the BSP government's move to frame charges under the SC/ST act against the MLA and their respective units in the district have decided to hold a joint rally there on January 22.
"The Samajwadi Party had been voicing its concern over harassment of political workers ever since this government came to power and the incident involving congress MLA, Pankaj Mallick further proves as to how the chief minister is out to settle political scores," SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said.
The district units of SP, Congress, BJP and the Rashtriya Lok Dal and Mahendra Singh Tikait's Bhartiya Kisan Union have come together on one platform in condemning the government's actions and held a meeting on Friday and Saturday to launch a formal joint protest, Chaudhary said.
"The SP chief by asking the Congress and BJP of extending cooperation in dealing with the government on people's issues has already taken an initiative and this could well mark the beginning of opposition parties joining flanks against oppression of its political leaders and workers," he said.
Senior BJP leader Hukum Singh said although his party had not decided to formally join the agitation in Muzaffarnagar, it would not stop its workers from taking part as the incident has now taken the shape of a "people's issue".
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The government should handle the issue carefully and order an inquiry by some senior official before initiating any action or else it could result in caste clash in western Uttar Pradesh, Singh said.
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