Uneasy calm on Saturday prevailed in Bishada village where a man was lynched over suspected beef consumption as Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal paid a visit to the bereaved family, with the latter deprecating attempts to communalizing the tragedy.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi paid a visit to Ikhlaq’s family after an angry mob killed him for allegedly consuming beef in Dadri, UP. (Photo courtesy: INC Twitter handle)
After being initially stopped by the local administration from visiting the village in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh on Delhi’s outskirts, Kejriwal met the grieving family and lashed out at political parties “spreading poison” between Hindus and Muslims for votebank politics.
Bishada’s uneasy tryst with unprecedented media glare and steady stream of politicians erupted in anger as locals forced the administration to prevent Kejriwal and some state Congress leaders from entering the village. They were, however, later allowed inside.
The authorities said they have sealed the village following a request from the victim’s son for “peace” in their hour of grief.
District Magistrate NP Singh had yesterday said the victim’s son Sartaj had given a written request that the family does not want to meet anyone as a steady stream of visitors was causing harassment to them.
“One political party is trying to consolidate Hindu vote bank, while another is trying to make Muslim their vote bank by spreading poison between the two communities. It is wrong,” Kejriwal later said.
“If somebody thinks Hindu religion is in danger and that is why Muslims are being targeted, then he cannot be a Hindu,” he said.
The Chief Minister questioned why AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and Union Minister Mahesh Sharma were not stopped by the administration yesterday from visiting the family and alleged that other parties were vitiating the atmosphere for political gains.
“What happened in Dadri was against humanity. It was totally wrong. Who benefited from it, neither Hindus nor Muslims. Only political parties and politicians are benefiting,” Kejriwal said.
Owaisi had yesterday termed the brutal killing of Mohammed Iqlakh by a 200-strong mob on Monday night following rumours that he and his family had slaughtered a calf and eaten its meat as a “pre-planned murder” because of the victim’s religious persuasion.
The local BJP MP and Union Minister Mahesh Sharma had called the shocking incident as an “accident” and said while the guilty, who bludgeoned Iquakh to death, be brought to book, innocent Hindus should not be harassed in the name of investigation.
Even the District Magistrate had yesterday said the visitors were trying to “communalise” the issue which was a matter of concern.
Rahul Gandhi, who recently returned from abroad, also visited Bishada and met the family members of Iqlakh.
“In Dadri to meet Mohammad Iqlakh’s family,” he tweeted after meeting them.
The Congress twitter handle also put out pictures of Rahul interacting with the family members of the deceased. He also met other villagers and asked them about the incident.
“Congress VP Rahul Gandhi in Dadri meeting Mohammad Akhlaq’s family,” the party twitter handle INC India said.
Congress and several other parties had yesterday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continued “silence” over the incident which has left the nation in shock.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force is planning to move Iqlakh’s family out of the village, terming his killing as “unfortunate”. The victim’s son Sartaj is a corporal in the IAF.
“Unfortunate incident or accident I would say. It is unfortunate that a serving air force personnel’s family has been affected resulting in death in the family. We are already in touch,” Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said, replying to questions at his annual press conference ahead of Air Force Day.
“Whatever protection is required, we are giving it to him. We are trying to move (them) to some Air Force area. We are with him and our people are there to assist the family,” he said.
The situation at the village, meanwhile, was claimed to be “under control” with large presence of security personnel.
The Uttar Pradesh police today arrested two main accused — Shivam and Vishal — in connection with the Dadri lynching case. The total number of accused arrested has till now gone up to 10.
The condition of Iqlakh’s 22-year-old son Danish, who was also mercilessly assaulted by the mob and is hospitalised, is improving, according to District Magistrate NP Singh.