Communal flare-up before bypolls is not coincidence: Akhilesh

Lucknow: Pointing fingers at the BJP govt and the state administration for the Bahraich clashes, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said it was not a mere coincidence that the communal atmosphere of the state is being vitiated just as the bypolls are around the corner. He said basic security drill of the route through which the procession was to pass could have averted the arson and violence."Chunav ka aana aur sampradaik mahaul ka bigard jana, ye ittefaq nahi hai (With bypolls round the corner the communal flare-up (in Bahraich) is not a mere coincidence)," Akhilesh said adding that people of the state can see everything."Everyone knows whose strategy is it to take help of violence to counter the fear of losing elections. This marks the arrival of bypolls," Akhilesh wrote in Hindi in a post on his social media account X.The former UP CM said instead of only putting up a façade of law and order, the govt can handle such situations by making proper (security) arrangements. But this will only happen when the govt wants it to happen, Akhilesh said in his post.Earlier in the day talking to media persons, Akhilesh said suspension of police outpost incharge and other junior police officers will not suffice or set an example for others. The administration should have seen what kind of songs were being played on the loudspeaker and if this was being done to insult someone, he said, adding that the govt must ensure justice."First, I will appeal to all the parties involved to work towards restoring law and order in the region. The incident is saddening. The govt, the administration and the media knows how the incidents have unfolded," Akhilesh said in his first reaction over communal clashes in Bahraich on Monday afternoon. "The govt must ensure that justice is done. A police outpost incharge or junior rung officers being removed will not solve the problem," he said.The former UP CM outlined the standard operating procedure (SOP) that the administration adopts for religious processions. "When the procession started, the administration should have made sure if there was proper security along the route. Along with this, attention should have been paid on what is being played on the loudspeakers. Entire responsibility of maintaining peace and law and order in the state rests with the govt," he said.