Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — In the aftermath of communal riots in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, opposition leaders have called for maintaining peace and order, criticising the authorities for their handling of the situation. Large-scale violence rocked the district’s Mehrajganj in Mehsi Tehsil, sparking political reactions across the state.
Samajwadi Party president and former chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, expressed his sorrow over the incident, stressing the importance of justice and law enforcement. “My appeal is to maintain law and order; the incident is unfortunate, and the government should ensure justice,” said Yadav. He questioned the police’s preparedness. “The police should have ensured security on the route and monitored what was being played on the loudspeaker. This incident occurred due to the government’s negligence,” he said.
Congress General Secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, also condemned the administration’s failure to prevent the violence. Taking to social media platform ‘X’, she wrote, “The news of violence and administrative negligence in Bahraich is deeply saddening. I urge the chief minister and the state administration to take immediate and strict action, reassure the people, and stop the violence. I strongly appeal to everyone to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and maintain peace.”
Congress state president Ajay Roy echoed this sentiment, calling for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s resignation. “Yogi should step down and return to the Mutt,” Roy stated, emphasising the need for accountability.
Both the Samajwadi Party and Congress have attributed the riots to police negligence, demanding corrective measures. In response, the chief minister has adopted a firm stance, stating that those responsible for disrupting the peace “will not be spared.” He has directed higher officials to identify and take strict action against the culprits. Adityanath also insisted that officials whose negligence contributed to the violence should be held accountable and face appropriate action.
The situation remains tense, with leaders urging calm and the state administration working to restore order.