Party announces ₹5.5 lakhs compensation to each family; political tensions rise as opposition entry into violence-hit district restricted
Team Clarion
LUCKNOW – The Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced financial assistance of ₹5.5 lakhs for the families of each person killed in the Sambhal violence during the court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. It also demanded that the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in the state pay ₹25 lakh to each family.
The district administration, meanwhile, has extended restrictions on political leaders visiting Sambhal until December 10, citing efforts to maintain law and order. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav calling it an attack on democracy.
A 15-member delegation of the SP, led by Opposition Leader Mata Prasad Pandey, was scheduled to visit Sambhal on Sunday to assess the situation and report back to Akhilesh Yadav. However, the delegation was stopped, and key leaders, including Pandey and SP state president Shyam Lal Pal, were placed under house arrest.
“The administration is using authoritarian tactics to hide its failures,” said Pandey, condemning the police action as “tyranny.” Akhilesh Yadav echoed this sentiment, questioning the rationale behind preventing leaders from leaving their residences in Lucknow when the prohibitory orders were limited to Sambhal.
“Why were we stopped from even reaching our party office in Lucknow? Has the BJP government declared an unofficial emergency across the state?” Yadav asked in a statement issued in Aligarh.
The SP chief accused the BJP government of failing to prevent the violence in Sambhal and suppressing democratic rights. He demanded the dismissal of district administration officials, accusing them of negligence and conspiracy.
“If timely action had been taken against those inciting violence and raising provocative slogans, the peace and harmony of Sambhal would not have been disturbed,” Yadav stated.
The SP has also demanded that officers responsible for the alleged mishandling of the situation be suspended and face murder charges.
The Sambhal district administration defended the restrictions, stating they were necessary to prevent further escalation and maintain peace. “The ban on political visits is purely to keep the situation under control. It has no other motive,” a senior official said, adding that the restrictions will be lifted once normalcy is restored.
However, this explanation has done little to appease opposition leaders. Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of deliberately inflaming communal tensions for political gain. “The BJP does not want peace; it thrives on creating division and unrest,” he alleged.
The SP highlighted the need for justice and immediate measures to restore peace in Sambhal. The party underscored its commitment to supporting the victims’ families and criticised the BJP for failing to uphold democratic values.
“The BJP is crushing democracy and the Constitution. Detaining public representatives without valid grounds is a dangerous precedent for our democracy,” said Yadav.
As the situation unfolds, the opposition’s demands for accountability and transparency are growing louder. With restrictions in place and the political climate heating up, Sambhal has become the epicentre of a broader debate on governance, democracy, and communal harmony in Uttar Pradesh.
