Mahesh Sharma meets victim's family, says Dadri lynching was not planned

Dadri: A day after calling the killing of a man for allegedly eating beef in a village in Greater Noida an 'accident', Union Minister Mahesh Sharma on Friday met the victim's family.

The Minister of State for Culture and Tourism reiterated that parties should refrain from playing politics by giving communal colour to the incident and there should be an impartial probe by CBI or the state to punish the guilty.

Sharma, who is also the local BJP MP, visited the family of deceased Iqlakh and stuck to his stand that it was an "accident", soon after controversial AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi met them and alleged that the man was targeted for his religion as part of a "pre-planned" conspiracy.

"It is a blot on our culture and such incidents do not have a place in a civilised society. If somebody says it was pre-planned, I don't agree with it. It is an accident and investigation should happen by CBI or state and guilty should be punished. Innocents should not be victimised in the name of investigation.”

"Law should take its course and there should be fair investigation. I condemn any attempt to give political or communal colour to this incident. Such people are neither well wishers of the society nor of the country," Sharma said.

The Minister also held a meeting at the village temple and said Hindu families have promised to protect the Muslim families.

His remarks came as parties stepped up attack on the BJP, alleging that it was trying to polarise the people on religious lines with such incidents.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded sacking of Sharma for his comments on the incident.

On Monday night, 50-year-old Akhlaq, a resident of Bisara village in Greater Noida was allegedly dragged from his home and lynched for sacrificing a cow.

The incident drew sharp condemnation from political parties.