Controversial BJP MP Vinay Katiyar on Tuesday said violence-hit Kasganj is home to many “Pakistan supporters” who only respect the Pakistani flag and are should be dealt with strictly.
Reacting to the clashes between two communities that left one dead and many injured, Katiyar said: “Pakistan supporters have come to Kasganj, they only respect the Pakistani flag and were raising slogans of Pakistan zindabad.”
“These people have killed one of our workers… They should be dealt with strictly,” he added.
Violent clashes took place on January 26 after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (an affiliate of the RSS) decided to take out a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in the district.
According to reports, as the ABVP activists raised slogans like ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, it led to heated arguments between two communities which ultimately resulted in the violence.
Even as the Uttar Pradesh district limps back to normalcy, the politics over the death of Chandan Gupta, who was shot dead in the clash, is only heating up.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced an ex gratia of Rs.20 lakh to the family of Chandan Gupta but the family is demanding that Chandan be given the status of a martyr.
The father of the youth also threatened self-immolation if his son was not declared a martyr.
Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Mahaur Vaishya Mahasabha has demanded that the financial assistance to the family of Chandan be raised to Rs 50 lakh.
The police also claimed to have recovered a pistol, reportedly used to kill Chandan, from the house of an accused Shakeel.
The state government called the violence as a “political conspiracy” while the main opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) has termed it “ominous and unfortunate” and has appealed for calm.