Politics over Dadri mob killing: Kejriwal, Rahul meet victim's kin
Kejriwal alongwith with AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh and Kumar Vishwas had to wait for over two hours to meet Ikhlaq's kin as he was stopped from entering the village by the administration.
Bisara village in Dadri town of Uttar Pradesh witnessed more high profile visitors on Saturday with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi touring the village within hours of each other.
The village, situated on the outskirts of Delhi, had witnessed brutal murder of a Muslim man Ikhlaq by a mob on Monday following rumours that his family had consumed beef. Ikhlaq's 22-year-old son Danish, who is employed in the Indian Air Force, was also injured in the mob attack and is still recuperating in the hospital.
Kejriwal alongwith with AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh and Kumar Vishwas had to wait for over two hours to meet Ikhlaq's kin as he was stopped from entering the village by the administration. The AAP delegation were taken away to a government guest house and allowed to visit the area with a police team later in the day.
Talking to India Today, Greater Noida Superintendent of Police Sanjay Singh said, "Locals were agitated at media presence and the continuous visits of politicians in the village. That's why we told the Delhi CM that it's not the right time to visit. If and when situation improves, will take him along."
Kejriwal took to Twitter to express his resentment over the incident and questioned why the local administration stopped him and his party leaders from meeting Ikhlaq's family when leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi were allowed to meet them.
Later in the evening, Rahul Gandhi reached the village, which has seen a string of leaders ever since the gruesome incident took place earlier this week.
"Rahul Gandhi met locals to know the about the details of the incident, he also assured every possible help to deceased Ikhlaq's family. He requested them not to leave the village," said Congress leader Mahendra Nagar.
Ikhlaq's death had sparked a bitter political blame game among the parties. While the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately inciting violence ahead of 2017 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh as part of efforts to polarise people, the saffron party has termed it a failure of the state government in maintaining law and order.
BJP mocks Rahul's Dadri visit
Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi's Dadri visit, BJP said that the Congress vice-president is always in search of such opportunities where he can go and get media attention.
"Most of the time Rahul Gandhi is out of the country. He tries to get maximum publicity by visiting such places whenever possible," said BJP leader Nalin Kohli.
UP CM Akhilesh Yadav announces compensation
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 20 Lakh to the deceased family in the Dadri mob killing.
Two main accused arrested
Two of the main accused in Dadri lynching case were arrested on Saturday. With the arrest of Shivam and Vishal the total number of people arrested in connection with the gruesome murder case has gone upto eight. A manhunt is on to nab two of the remaining accused named in the FIR.