Bulandshahr violence: Yogi’s minister OP Rajbhar alleges RSS hand in cop's murder

The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader and backward classes welfare minister in Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet, OP Rajbhar, on Tuesday alleged that the Bulandshahr violence was a “pre-planned conspiracy” of the RSS – the ideological patriarch of the ruling BJP – in collaboration with the hard-line Hindu groups VHP and Bajrang Dal to disturb peace. “This (Bulandshahr violence) is a pre-planned conspiracy by VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS, now police is even naming some BJP members. Why did the protest happen on the same day of Muslim Ijtema event? It was an attempt to disturb the peace,” ANI quoted SBSP leader Rajbhar as saying.

Despite being the alliance partner of the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Rajbhar is known for openly speaking against the Yogi Adityanath government. Recently, during the VHP ‘Dharma Sabha’ in Ayodhya, Rajbhar had sided with former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav and described the gathering of the mob in the holy town a "failure of the government".

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The SHO of Shyana police station in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh was murdered by cow vigilantes on Monday. The cop died of a gunshot fired by a mob protesting against the alleged cow slaughter in the area. According to news agency ANI, the post-mortem report of the policeman confirmed that he died of a gunshot injury by a .32 mm bore bullet on his head.

Meanwhile, the family members of the murdered Bulandshahr cop alleged a conspiracy by the UP police and slammed the Uttar Pradesh chief minister for his past statements on cow protection.

“My brother was investigating Akhlaq case and that is why he was killed. It’s a conspiracy by Police. He should be declared martyr and memorial should be built. We do not want money. CM only keeps saying cow cow cow,” sister of the deceased cop said.

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The UP CM is often accused by his political opponents for his soft approach to tackle the growing menace of vigilantes in the name of protecting cow – an animal considered sacred by Hindus.