Even as the opposition protests on Hathras incident have peaked, senior BJP leader Uma Bharti has slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the issue, especially on the decision of not allowing the bereaved family to meet anyone.
Known for her straight talk, Bharti on Friday said that the foundation stone of the Ram temple was recently laid (in Ayodhya) and Ram Rajya is being promised, but “dubious police action is sullying your (Adityanath’s), UP government’s and BJP’s image”.
Bharti’s slamming of UP CM comes at a time when the opposition is questioning the silence of senior women BJP leaders, including Union Women And Child Development Minister Smriti Irani over the incident that has caused deep rage across the nation.
In a series of tweets, the feisty leader, who has also been a Member of Parliament from Jhansi in UP, has urged the chief minister to allow the family to meet media personnel and leaders of other political parties as cordoning off the family will only cast doubt on the fairness of the special investigation team (SIT) probe being conducted in the case.
She has said that she is not in knowledge of any rule that prevents the family (of the victim) from meeting anyone while the SIT probe was on.
Bharti has also said that if she was not admitted to AIIMS, Rishikesh after being detected COVID-19 positive, she would have herself been with the family in the present circumstances. “I am feeling very disturbed in the corona ward. As soon as I am discharged, I propose to visit the family,” she said.
Uma Bharti, addressing Yogi Adityanath on Twitter, said that though isolated due to her health status, she follows news over television. “I saw the news about Hathras incident. Initially I thought I would say nothing because you might be taking appropriate action. But the way police have cordoned off the village and the family creates a lot of apprehensions despite logic being given,” Bharti said.
“She was daughter of a dalit family. Police conducted her last rites in too much of hurry and now both her family and the village have been cordoned off by the police,” she added.
She further said “you have the image of a very clean ruler. I request you to allow the media and leaders of other political parties to meet the family of the victim. I am senior to you in BJP and your elder sister. My request is that you should not disregard my suggestions.”
