UP BJP chief threatens Moradabad SSP

Apparently angry over the Moradabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) blaming his party for the recent violence at Kaanth, Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai on Saturday told the top cop that the saffron party considers him its “enemy”, and that this “enmity will last for a long time”.

“Jaise nagin apne dushman ki photo ankhon mein utar leti hai, waise hi humne bhi SSP ki photo apni ankhon mein utar li hai... Ab to dus kar hi dum lenge'' (Just as snake memorises the photo of its enemy, we too have memorised the photo of the SSP. We will not rest until we have bitten him),” said a furious Bajpai in Moradabad after visiting party workers lodged in the jail in connection with the violence.

“Our enmity will last for a long time. We will ensure revenge for the atrocities committed on our party workers by the police chief of Moradabad,” Bajpai went on to add.

Spewing more venom at SSP Dharamveer Yadav, the state BJP chief said the cop was not “fit for public service”, and it would be better if Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav included him in his personal security detail. Bajpai declared that the party would intensify its stir against the “atrocities” committed on BJP workers at Kaanth by the state police, and launch a fortnight-long agitation from Tuesday in the districts of western UP.

Angry reactions

Bajpai's remarks elicited a sharp reaction from Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders. “It is a highly condemnable remark. The official has not done anything illegal,” said SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary.

 Yadav had, soon after violence erupted at Kaanth, said the BJP wanted to “communally polarise” the atmosphere so that it could win the forthcoming Assembly by-poll at the Thakurdwara constituency in the district.

“BJP MP Sarvesh Singh is trying to take political advantage by inciting communal sentiments. He may have a political motive,” Yadav had told reporters. 

Singh, who had been elected from the Thakurdwara Assembly seat in the 2012 polls, had resigned from the Assembly and a by-election is due there shortly.