Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati condemned the stone pelting on the survey team in Sambhal on Sunday morning and held the Uttar Pradesh government responsible for the ‘ruckus’ and ‘violence’ in the district.
The BSP leader claimed that the survey should have been carried out thoughtfully and peacefully, considering the interests of both communities.
Speaking to ANI, BSP chief Mayawati said, “I would also like to tell the UP government that after the unexpected results of the by-elections in UP yesterday, there was a lot of tension in the entire Moradabad division, especially in Sambhal district.”
“The government and administration should have taken forward the work of surveying the mosque-temple dispute in Sambhal. This would have been much better, but by not doing so, whatever ruckus and violence happened during the survey today, the UP government and administration are completely responsible for that,” said Mayawati.
“This is highly condemnable. This work should have been done peacefully by taking both parties together, which is not being done. I strongly appeal to all the people of Sambhal to maintain peace there,” she added.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya assured strict action against those who “tried to hinder” proceedings ordered by the court.
“Action will be taken against those who attempted to hinder the survey of the mosque which was being conducted by government and police personnel, who were following orders of the court,” the Deputy CM said.
Maurya’s remarks came in the backdrop of a clash that erupted in Sambhal as police used tear gas shells and lathicharged a crowd who pelted stones at a team from Archeological Survey of India team who had arrived for a survey of the mosque.
Several vehicles were set on fire and clash resulted in significant property damage in the area, police said.
Reacting to the incident, RJD leader Manoj Jha said, “The whole world saw the face of Uttar Pradesh police during the by-elections. People are being threatened with revolvers… Every effort should be made to maintain peace at any cost, whether the ruling party or the opposition party is in power. The image of Uttar Pradesh police is not good.”
“A survey is being conducted in Sambhal on the orders of the court. Some anti-social elements have pelted stones. Police and senior officers are present on the spot.The situation is under control, the police will identify the stone pelters and take appropriate legal action,” Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishan Kumar said while speaking to reporters in Sambhal.
A survey at the mosque earlier on November 19 on the orders of a local court following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jained who claimed that a temple originally stood at the site. The survey was conducted with local police and members of the mosque’s anagement committee present to oversee the process.