Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav, while speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, condemned the violence in Sambhal, labelling it as a “well-planned conspiracy.” He expressed concerns that the ongoing narrative about excavations at mosques, promoted by the BJP and its allies, could undermine the unity and brotherhood of the country.
“The violence in Sambhal is not a mere incident but a deliberate conspiracy that has shattered the brotherhood in the region. The BJP’s narrative of excavations at mosques, if continued, will destroy the harmony in the country,” Akhilesh Yadav told the Lok Sabha.
Yadav further accused the Sambhal administration of showing partiality and acting in a manner resembling that of BJP supporters. He alleged that the incident was part of a larger BJP strategy to divert attention from other issues.
“The officers in Sambhal are working arbitrarily as if they are BJP workers. The Sambhal incident is a deliberate move by the BJP to distract people from more pressing matters. The BJP’s insistence on excavation will ultimately lead to the loss of national unity,” he added.
The violence in Sambhal occurred on November 24 when a mob pelted stones at a team of officials surveying a Mughal-era mosque. The court had ordered the survey after a petition claimed that the mosque was built on the ruins of an ancient temple. The clashes resulted in the deaths of four people.
In his earlier remarks, Yadav also accused the authorities of attempting to undermine the integrity of the investigation. He claimed that the actions of the police and administration in Sambhal were politically motivated and biased towards the BJP.
“The way the police handled the situation in Sambhal was like they were acting as BJP workers. This incident is part of the BJP’s larger strategy to shift focus away from other important issues. Their attempts to ‘dig up’ everything will only create unrest and destroy the country’s harmony,” he said.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav claimed that the police had opened fire during the incident, killing five people and injuring several others. He explained that the mob had become agitated because they suspected the survey team of trying to vandalize the mosque.
“On December 24, at 6 am, police forces were deployed across Sambhal, and the locals had no idea why. Later, the DM, SSP, and others entered the mosque, and the crowd thought they were attempting to damage it. When the SDM opened a water tank, and water started flowing out, people feared something was amiss, which led to chaos. The police then opened fire, resulting in the deaths of five people. Cases were filed against hundreds, many were jailed, and those arrested were severely beaten,” he said.
Ram Gopal Yadav also added that the police’s actions during recent Uttar Pradesh elections had raised concerns, further suggesting that the violence in Sambhal might have been a diversion to draw attention away from electoral interference.
“This violence is not an isolated incident but part of a broader strategy to divert attention from the BJP’s interference in the elections and other issues that affect the people,” Ram Gopal Yadav concluded.
Both Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav’s statements in Parliament point to a growing concern within the Samajwadi Party that the Sambhal incident was politically motivated and that it was part of the BJP’s larger strategy to manipulate public opinion. The ongoing tension over the mosque survey and the issue of excavations has sparked debates on the impact it may have on the social fabric of the region.