BJP: Ammo used by cult belonged to UP police armoury

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 6

Preparing to turn the Jawahar Bagh incident into a major poll issue ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections, the BJP charged the Akhilesh Yadav government with serious allegations regarding its role in the establishment of Ram Vriksh Yadav-led cult and the violence in the Mathura park last week.

Demanding a CBI inquiry into the clashes, the BJP termed the encroachment on the park a “case of nexus between the ruling SP and the land mafia to usurp prime property”.

Alleging that cartridges used by cult members in firing belonged to the armoury of the UP Police, BJP leaders are also raising questions on whether the prime accused Ram Vriksh Yadav has actually been killed. “The ‘hatyari’ (killer) UP government sacrificed honest officers to grab prime land,” BJP leader Shrikant Sharma said, claiming that the police “did not even have the orders to open fire at those holding the Jawarhar Bagh.

He also accused senior minister Shivpal Yadav of providing encroachers political patronage. “The BJP does not want to make it a political issue. We only want justice for honest police officers who were killed while the government was trying to shield criminals,” Sharma said.

“Forty intelligence reports warned of hoarding of illegal weapons, cartridges and LPG cylinders at the spot. Despite court orders, the administration did not act. There are reports that the government was trying to give this land on a 90-year lease to those illegally occupying it. Only a CBI probe can now establish the truth,” he added.