In Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, violent clashes broke out on Sunday, and the political debate surrounding the incident intensified on Monday. A case has been filed against Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ziaur Rahman Barq, while the BJP accused the SP and other opposition parties of inciting the violence. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav defended Barq, stating that he was in Bengaluru at the time of the clashes.
The situation involves a dispute over a survey conducted at the Shahi Jama Masjid. The Muslim community and SP leaders claimed the survey team arrived without prior notice, while the district administration, police, and the complainants denied this claim.
Different Perspectives on the Incident:
Akhilesh Yadav’s View:
Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party, blamed the Yogi Adityanath-led government for orchestrating the violence. He accused the administration of improperly conducting the survey without giving enough notice to the public. Yadav said that when people questioned the survey, the police mistreated them, leading to stone-pelting and gunfire in retaliation. He claimed that the clashes were a planned riot by the government and questioned who authorized the second survey.
Ziaur Rahman Barq’s Response:
Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq, who was not in Sambhal during the incident, called the case filed against him a conspiracy. He explained that he was attending a meeting in Bengaluru at the time and denied any involvement in the violence. Barq criticized the police and administration for acting without informing the public about the survey and demanded action against the officers involved in the case.
Mosque Management’s View:
Advocate Zafar Ali, who represents the mosque management, also accused the district administration of creating a conspiracy. He said the administration was responsible for the confusion, as the SDM insisted on emptying a water tank, which led people to mistakenly think the mosque was being excavated. He also pointed out that the survey had already been completed on November 19, but officials still insisted on conducting another one, which led to the unrest.
Petitioner's Statement from the Hindu Side:
Vishnu Shankar Jain, a Supreme Court advocate and a petitioner on the Hindu side, shared a notice that was issued to the mosque on November 23. The notice informed them of the survey scheduled for the following day, and Jain claimed that the mosque committee was present during the survey.
Police and Administration’s Perspective:
The police and district administration also claimed that the mosque had been notified in advance about the survey. Sambhal's Superintendent of Police (SP), Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, accused MP Ziaur Rahman Barq and MLA’s son Sohail Iqbal of inciting the mob. Bishnoi said that Barq had a history of making provocative speeches despite previous warnings. He confirmed that 15 police officers were injured, and 23 people had been arrested so far. A video reportedly showed Barq urging people not to engage in violence and to avoid ruining their future.
Government’s Response:
The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, which resulted in four deaths and many injuries, including over 20 police officers.
The situation in Sambhal remains tense, with different political and community groups offering conflicting accounts of what led to the violent clashes. The investigation is ongoing, and the government has pledged to take legal action against those responsible.
