Protection and encouragement to fringe elements was emboldening them to lynch even a police officer, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi Tuesday said with regard to the flare-up in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr over a reported cow slaughter incident.
Violence broke out Monday in the UP city after villagers found some body parts of cows in a jungle in Mahaw village.
The animal parts were then taken to the local police station by members of various Hindu groups and villagers demanding action.
The situation soon got violent, resulting in people pelting stones and burning down Chingarwathi Police Chowki as well as several vehicles, following which police opened fire.
Inspector Subodh Kumar, who was posted at the Syana Police Station, died in the violence, and a youth succumbed to gun-shot wounds.
"The situation prevailing in Uttar Pradesh is unfortunate. People who are eager to kill others are not only given protection but are encouraged. Encouragement to such elements has emboldened them to lynch even a police officer, who was trying to maintain law and order," Chaturvedi said here Tuesday.
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She was in Pune to inaugurate a poster exhibition, targeting the BJP, organised by former MLC and senior Congress leader Mohan Joshi.
Hitting out at the BJP, she said, "Today, some organisations associated with the ruling parties are feeling so emboldened that they think they can take law into their hands and no action will be taken against them. Such concession to these people is dangerous for the entire country."
Taking a swipe at UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is the star campaigner for the BJP in states going to Assembly polls at present, Chaturvedi said he should go back to UP and set it in order first.
"Whatever is happening in UP, he is accountable and if he not ready to take responsibility, he should be relieved of his post," the Congress leader said.
She said those behind the violence should be brought to justice, warning that the Congress would start a nationwide agitation to ensure investigations proceed on the right track.
She said the BJP, since 1980 (when the party was formed) had used religious polarisation to gain votes.
"Unfortunately, it has now reached a point where they are creating a caste divide. They are now dividing even gods as per castes as they (BJP) have realised that they have no development record to show," she claimed.
The Congress spokesperson expressed confidence the voters of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram will reject the BJP in the current Assembly polls.
MP and Mizoram went to polls on November 28, Chhattisgarh on November 12 and 20, while Rajasthan and Telangana will vote on December 7.
The results of all the five states will be declared on December 11.
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