Dadri: Even as politicians continue to make a beeline in Dadri after Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched, his son Sartaj has made an appeal for peace and maintaining communal harmony.
“Saare jahan se accha hindustan hamara, if we all understand the meaning of this song there will be peace everywhere,” Sartaj said.
Reports on Monday said that Sartaj made this appeal while interacting with a news channel.
Sartaj also urged everyone to pray for the life of his brother Danish who was critically injured in the brutal incident.
Also Read: Political sparring intensifies; UP CM Akhilesh Yadav meets victim's family
Sartaj's appeal came at a time when the political leaders continues to make a beeline to the Dadari village in order to meet Akhlaq's family members.
Meanwhile, the father of one of the accused arrested in the case has claimed that political leaders should stop visiting the village.
"The statements and the blame game being played by politicians is increasing the violence in the village. The ministers should stop visiting the village. We should be left to ourselves and there will be no violence," Rajesh Rana, father of one of the accused in the case said.
Rana also claimed that the police is not handling the case well. "Ikhlaq was like a brother to me. The allegations about my son are completely untrue," Rana said.
The victim's wife, daughter and other relatives were taken to state's capital Lucknow to meet Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday.
"We met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to seek justice. We want justice to be served," said the victim's brother.
Also Read: Akhilesh Yadav meets victim Iqlakh's kin, announces 45 lakh ex-gratia
Akhilesh Yadav also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 30 lakh to Iqlakh's family and 5 lakh each to his three brothers.
Akhlaq was beaten to death by a mob on Monday night after a public announcement from the local temple that a calf had been slaughtered and his family had eaten beef.
His 22-year-old son Danish who was also attacked is battling for life at a hospital following two brain surgeries. The incident has sparked outrage in the country, with parties attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party alleging that the killing was a result of its "politics of hatred".
Trying to score brownie points, BJP MLA Sangeet Som, who is the main accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots hit out at the state government for protecting people who indulged in cow slaughter and for playing politics of appeasement.
Also Read: BJP MLA Sangeet Som questions arrests, says SP appeasing minority community
Slamming the state police for taking one-sided action, Som said that it was actually Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi who are disturbing peace in the region.
"Families that indulged in cow slaughter are given protection. The UP government is taking one-sided action. Azam Khan and Asaduddin Owaisi are trying to disturb peace in the area," Som said.
Backing Som, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj accused the Samajwadi Party government of indulging in dirty politics. "This is politics of appeasement by the UP government. The government is insensitive towards such issues. The UP government has different policies for Hindus and Muslims," said Maharaj.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed the lynching of a man in Dadri as "unfortunate" and said it should not be given any "communal colour". "It was an unfortunate incident. But it is not proper to give communal colour to it. The incident should not be politicised," Singh said.
Also Read: Don't give political colour to Dadri incident: Rajnath Singh
BSP chief Mayawati' also extended financial assistance of Rs 11 lakh 21 thousand to family of victim yesterday.
