BJP sends show-cause notices to 2 UP MLAs for remarks against Muslims, questioning authorities
New Delhi/Lucknow: The BJP on Tuesday issued show-cause notices to two of its Uttar Pradesh MLAs -- Suresh Tiwari, who allegedly asked people not to buy vegetables from Muslim vendors, and Shyam Prakash for levelling corruption charges against Hardoi health authorities in the purchase of medical equipment.
The conduct of both the MLAs is against the party's policy, BJP's Uttar Pradesh media in-charge Manish Dixit said in a statement, adding that they have been asked to give their replies within a week.
Party sources said its central leadership found Tiwari's remarks "highly irresponsible", and its national president J P Nadda "pulled up" the state brass for not taking quick action.
Expressing his displeasure over the comments, Nadda stated that the BJP will not "tolerate" such remarks and said party leaders should not make statements like this.
The sources said Nadda admonished Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh and asked him to take action against Tiwari. Both Tiwari and Prakash are from Hardoi district and have left the party red-faced with their statements.
Tiwari, who represents Barhaj constituency in Deoria district in the state assembly, was seen in a video clip purportedly telling people: "I am saying this openly: don't purchase vegetables from Muslims (Ek cheez dhayan mein rakhiyega, main bol raha hoon openly, koi bhi miyan ke hathon sabzi nahi lega)."
When asked about his remark, Tewari said, "On April 17th or 18th, I was distributing masks and sanitizers among the people. When I reached the boundary of the nagar palika, around 17-18 people came to me and started complaining against Tablighi Jamaat members creating chaos and spreading coronavirus and also contaminating vegetables with their saliva."
"I told them not to fight with them or take law into their own hands, but simply to stop purchasing from them," he said.
"There are many Muslim vendors in Barhaj too and I only advised people not to purchase from them to be saved from the deadly virus," the MLA added.
On Monday, Gopamau MLA Shyam Prakash had alleged corruption in the purchase of medical equipment.
In a letter dated April 25 to the Hardoi chief development officer, he had sought details about Rs 24.99 lakh given from his MLA fund on April 16.
Alleging corruption, he said the amount be "immediately returned" so that the money could be used for other works in public interest.
Reacting to the allegations, District Magistrate Pulkit Khare said, "The chief development officer has been directed to initiate a departmental action against the chief medical officer while orders have been issued to suspend pharmacist JN Tiwari."
A section of right wing elements has targeted Muslims over the spread of the coronavirus, alleging that some members of the community have deliberately abetted the rise in infections.
The BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state have sought to dispel the impression that Muslims are being targeted by a section of people in the fight against the pandemic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently asked people to fight the pandemic unitedly, calling for brotherhood and harmony.
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Bengaluru police arrest 6 from TN's Coimbatore in dacoity case
Bengaluru (PTI): Six persons were arrested from Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district in connection with a dacoity case here, police said on Sunday.
The police seized two two-wheelers, four mobile phones, and two laptops worth Rs 3 lakh from the accused.
The accused allegedly trespassed into a house here and threatened the occupants with deadly weapons, earlier this month.
According to police, the complainant, a resident of Pavamana Nagar within the limits of Konanakunte Police Station, submitted a complaint on April 18. He was a college student, originally from Kerala. He, along with six other students, resided in the house and all were pursuing studies at the same college.
On the night of April 17, around late hours, six unknown persons aged between 20-25 years unlawfully entered the house. They assaulted the occupants with their hands and a knife, causing bleeding injuries, threatened them, and robbed them of Rs 10,000 cash, four mobile phones, two laptops, and a two-wheeler, they said, adding that based on the complaint, a dacoity case was registered.
During the investigation, the police conducted inquiries from various angles and gathered credible information through informants. the an official release said, adding, the accused were later picked up from Coimbatore.
The police recovered the stolen laptops, mobile phones, a two-wheeler belonging to the complainant, and another one used in the commission of the offence, they said.
"Upon interrogation, all six accused confessed to their involvement in the offence."
The six accused were produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody, they added.
