Mayawati accuses Akhilesh govt of not taking Mathura violence seriously, calls for CBI probe

Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday said that the ruling Samajwadi Party government isn’t taking the Mathura incident seriously and demanded a CBI probe into the violence.

"The Chief Minister is touring Bundelkhand and not visiting Mathura. The Samajwadi Party government is not taking this incident seriously," Mayawati said.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief today demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or court-monitored investigation into deaths of 24 people who died during an anti- encroachment drive on Thursday in Jawahar bagh in Mathura. Those killed include Superintendent of Police Mukul Dwivedi.

Other opposition parties, especially the BJP, has targetted the ruling party as well over 'complete breakdown' of the administration and law and order in the state.

While, Yadav has ordered a commissioner-level inquiry into the violence, the Centre has sought a report from the state government as well.  

24 people, including an SP and SHO, were killed in clashes between police and members of a sect who had encroached on government land in Mathura on Thursday.

Mayawati also criticised BJP President Amit Shah for sharing food with Dalits in Varanasi and said such 'gimmicks' do not work or get translated into votes. "BJP should dimnish such ideas from its mind," she said.

The BSP supremo claimed that atrocities on Dalits were increasing in Uttar Pradesh as well as all over the country and cited the Rohit Vemula case where, she said, justice has not been given to the family so far.