Political blame game starts over hooch tragedy

Agra: A day after the hooch tragedy that claimed at least 25 lives in Aligarh, a political blame game has started as two of the accused - Rishi Sharma and Anil Chaudhary - are connected with BJP and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), respectively. While Chaudhary, who has been arrested, is reportedly close to RLD, photographs of Sharma with several BJP members have surfaced, sparking a political row.

Incidentally, Sharma is still absconding and the Aligarh police has declared a reward of Rs 50,000 for his arrest and taken his wife Renu Sharma, ex-block Pramukh, into custody.

Sharma had reportedly joined the BJP a few years ago and was recently elected as a BDC member from the village Jawan. His Facebook account is full of photographs with the party's who’s who, including state minister Sandeep Singh. It has gone viral on social media now.

However, local BJP members are trying to distance themselves from him after the incident and claimed that he does not hold any position in the party.

“Lots of people get their photographs clicked with ministers. Politicians cannot be held responsible for it,” said BJP district president Rishipal Singh, reacting to Sharma's party connections.

“There is no connection of any criminal with the party,” said BJP MP Aligarh Satish Gautam, adding that a "criminal is criminal whosoever he is".

Chaudhary, who was recently elected unopposed as BDC member, is the husband of the elected zila panchayat member, Mamta Chaudhary, and is backed by RLD and Samajwadi Party.

His arrest on Friday sparked protests with residents of Aligarh’s Gonda area, demanding a "fair and high level probe". They claimed that Chaudhary is being framed by BJP members as his wife is a possible candidate for zila panchayat chairperson.


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