New Delhi, June 2: Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) sharply criticized Maharashtra’s Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and legislator Abu Azmi for his comments regarding the Ghaziabad police on Tuesday. They emphasized that the Uttar Pradesh police operate without bias and have contributed to creating a safer environment in the state through strict action against criminals.
The political discourse escalated after Azmi questioned the police’s actions in an encounter that resulted in the death of the main suspect in the Ghaziabad murder case. He alleged that such operations are influenced by religious sentiments and labeled the police’s actions as “extremely wrong.”
Azmi stated, “Typically, there is no gunfire during encounters, except in rare cases. However, this has become a trend. Criminals should be punished. If someone is a serious offender, they should face the death penalty, but there is a constitution for that. Arrest the criminal, prove their guilt in court, and then impose the sentence. However, in Uttar Pradesh, this is all being done on a religious basis.”
He further claimed, “If someone kills a Muslim or a Yadav, there are no encounters. But if a Hindu is killed by a Muslim or a Yadav, they are quickly eliminated in an encounter. A criminal is a criminal, regardless of whether they are Muslim, Hindu, or Christian. Every criminal should face justice.”
In response to these allegations, BJP Rajya Sabha member Dinesh Sharma defended the Uttar Pradesh police and questioned Azmi’s assertions. Speaking to reporters, Sharma asked, “If someone starts shooting in front of you, will you first ask if they are Hindu or Muslim before taking action? Will the police shoot only after that? Why are police armed? They are equipped to protect themselves and society. If a criminal is continuously firing at the police, what options do they have?”
He asserted that law enforcement agencies in the state work impartially and have helped build public trust through their actions. “I believe the Uttar Pradesh police operate fairly, and they instill fear in criminals. Additionally, I think a positive environment has been created for ordinary citizens throughout Uttar Pradesh,” he added.
JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad also criticized Azmi’s comments, stating that rather than questioning actions against criminals, focus should be on supporting effective law enforcement.
Speaking to reporters, Prasad remarked, “Why do leaders like Tejashwi Yadav and Abu Azmi always appear sympathetic towards criminals? This is concerning. Before making such statements, Azmi should study the actions taken against criminals in Uttar Pradesh.”
He urged the opposition to support the effective law and order established under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, rather than viewing crime through the lens of caste and religion.
JD(U) chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar dismissed the suggestion that encounters could be linked to religion, arguing that crime has no caste or religious identity.
Kumar stated, “How can encounters be conducted based on religion? What was the blood group of Vikas Dubey? Is any criminal or gangster from a specific caste or religion? Such statements only benefit political opponents. A criminal is a criminal. The politics of encounters must end now.”
Leave a Comment