Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh minister Omprakash Rajbhar launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Friday, accusing it of fostering a long-standing culture of shielding criminals and engaging in caste-based politics. Speaking to reporters after a public hearing in Azamgarh, Rajbhar responded to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s allegations against the state government regarding the Jaunpur encounter.
Rajbhar Highlights Criminal Record of Accused
Rajbhar stated that the accused Ravi Yadav, whom the opposition has been defending, has 23 serious criminal cases registered against him, including murder. He urged opposition leaders to thoroughly examine the accused’s criminal history before making public statements. “Opposition leaders should look at the facts before speaking. This accused is a hardened criminal with multiple cases,” Rajbhar asserted.
Allegations of Selective Silence on Atrocities
The minister further alleged that the opposition remains silent on murders and atrocities against backward and Dalit communities in several districts but becomes vocal when an accused belongs to a particular caste. Citing the Mubarakpur incident, Rajbhar claimed that SP leaders had approached police officers to seek leniency for an accused involved in the murder of a Dalit public representative. This, he said, exposed the SP’s double standards.
BJP Government’s Zero-Tolerance Policy
Rajbhar emphasized that the BJP government’s policy is clear: no criminal will be spared, irrespective of caste, religion, or party affiliation. He informed that police are conducting raids to arrest absconding accused Bhole Rajbhar and Pradeep Bind in the widely discussed Jaunpur groom murder case. “Our government is committed to justice for all,” he added.
Supreme Court Verdict and Voter List Irregularities
On the Supreme Court’s verdict related to the Election Commission, Rajbhar said the ruling exposed what he termed the opposition’s false allegations. He claimed that a voter list check in his constituency found more than 12,000 deceased voters’ names, enabling bogus voting. “This is a serious issue that undermines democracy,” he remarked.
