Dadri lynching: Leaders across political spectrum question Modi's silence
Dadri/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday came under strindent opposition attack for his silence on the lynching of a man over suspected beef consumption, with leaders contending he should have at least condemned it through his usual tweets as tension simmered in the village on Delhi's outskirts.
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who visited Bishada village near Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, the scene of the crime which has outraged the nation, to console Mohammed Iqlakh's family, questioned Modi's silence on the "pre-planned murder".
"We had expected that the least the Prime Minister, who talks of 'sabka saath-sabka vikas' (inclusivity)', would tweet to condole Iqlakh's murder. Yesterday, he had tweeted to condole famous singer Asha Bhosale's son's death. The 'sabka saath-sabka vikas PM' should have at least sent his condolences in a tweet if he believes in pluralism and upholding of law," the controversial Hyderabad MP, known for his sharp tongue, said.
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Mamata Banerjee's TMC also assailed Modi for keeping quiet after the Monday night killing of Iqlakh by a rampaging mob of 200 people, which dragged him out of his home to the street and stoned him to death over allegations of cow slaughter and beef eating.
TMC MP Sultan Ahmed demanded that Modi make a statement on communal incidents in the country in order to stop RSS and other outfits from "disrupting" communal harmony.
"We want to know why is Narendra Modi silent on the recent killing of a person only over rumours of consuming beef. This is nothing but spreading communal poison in the society and disrupting the fabric of the country," TMC MP Sultan Ahmed told PTI in Kolkata. "Modi keeps on speaking about each and every issue. But he stays mum on various communal incidents. He should speak up in order to stop RSS, VHP from destroying communal peace."
Congress also demanded that the Prime Minister speak up and condemn the attack. "The Prime Minister tweets on every issue, but has not said a word about the incident. He should break his silence and condemn the incident", party spokesman R P N Singh said.
CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said his party is surprised at Modi's "silence" on such "irrational and intolerant" killing of innocent people.
Amid rising political temperature over the incident that has sent shock waves through the country, Bishada continued its uncomfortable tryst with media spotlight, while remaining under the protective shadow of the gun.
Contingents of Provincial Armed Constabulary and state police were strategically deployed across the village where prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more people continued to be in force.
District Magistrate M P Singh claimed the situation was under control and reasoned that the incident should be treated as a "solitary case" and not a communal clash as no other Muslim family was affected.
