BJP holds UP CM responsible for deteriorating law and order situation

Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya has lashed out at Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and said the recent incidents have exposed the failures of the Samajwadi Party (SP) Government in the state.

Condemning the case of caste discrimination where a 13-year-old Dalit girl in Gunnaur village of Sambhal District was allegedly denied drinking water at a temple, Maurya demand strict action against the guilty.

"I believe that this inequality and similar incidents which are coming to the fore has exposed the failures of the Akhilesh Yadav-led government. I would say in particular this is the failure of Shri Akhilesh Yadav as the Home Department is under him," he told ANI.

The incident took place when the girl named Sudha, who was working in the field along with her father, went to the temple to quench her thirst.

"When I went to drink water, the priest called me 'chamar' and said how I dared to drink water. He also called me names. He slapped me," she said.

"Then I went to my father. When my father went to confront him, he thrashed my father with a stick," she added.

Charan Singh, the victim's father, was later attacked by the temple priest and another local.

"The pujari of the temple did not allow my daughter to drink water from the hand-pump. He said she cannot drink water because she is a Dalit. Then she returned back," said Charan.

"She went again and then the priest came to me saying that I have again sent my daughter to fetch water. He thrashed me with a trident. Another person named Nathu started beating me with a stick," he added.

The victim's father claimed the entire Dalit community living in the village is not allowed to take water from the hand-pump.

"They don't even distribute 'prasad' to us," he said.

Meanwhile, the police has registered a case under Section 323,324 and 3(1) 10 of the SC/ST Act.