New Delhi: Under fire from rival parties for terming the Dadri lynching incident as “accident”, Union minister Mahesh Sharma on Friday rejected calls for his removal, describing them as politically motivated and said only the Prime Minister could ask for his resignation.
“Those calling for my resignation are indulging in politics. An accident had occurred, I repeat. A question is being asked repeatedly that whether it was an accident (hadsa) or a thought-out conspiracy. I want to tell all who want to spread communalism or do politics that people have been living in that village amicably for 70 years,” he said.
Mr Sharma, the MP from Gautam Budh Nagar, under which Dadri falls, was responding to Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav's demand for his resignation after he dubbed the killing of Mohammed Iqlakh by a lynch mob over allegations of consuming beef on Monday night as an accident.
He said the mosque in Dadri’s Bishada village, the scene of the crime, had been built through contributions from all sections of residents. Mr Sharma said he had visited the village and people there have pledged to support and protect the Muslim families.
“Only Prime Minister can ask for my resignation and not others,” said Mr Sharma.
