Akhilesh questions UP govt's claim of 'outsiders' role' in anti-CAA violence

Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday questioned the Uttar Pradesh government's claim of "outsiders' role" in the violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the state and wondered what the authorities did to stop the agitators.

The SP chief was speaking to reporters here after handing over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the family of a rape survivor who died on Saturday.

"The government is saying that people from West Bengal came here (to indulge in violence)... then what were you (government) doing? From Bengal, news is coming that some people (from BJP) were involved in arsoning after they changed their clothes," Yadav told reporters.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma had on Sunday alleged "outsiders' role" in the incidents of violence reported from various districts of the state where anti-CAA protests took place.

He had pointed out that persons hailing from West Bengal's Malda district, associated with the Popular Front of India (PFI), had been arrested by the state police.

"All Indians are against CAA. The move has been initiated to divert attention of people from core issues," Yadav said.

When asked about unveiling of statue of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at a programme in Lok Bhawan in Lucknow on Wednesday, Akhilesh said, "Our CM (Yogi Adityanath) has done no work. BJP is showing SP's work to the PM. We are happy PM is coming to see work of Samajwadis."
Attacking the BJP further, Yadav said, "The BJP does contrary to what it says. It gave the slogan of 'beti padhao, beti bachao' but instead of educating and saving them, girls are forced to commit suicide in the present regime."