Dadri report sparks fresh political sparring, UP CM questions authenticity

The Dadri lynching sparked fresh political sparring today over a forensic report on a meat sample that led to the attack with BJP leaders from Uttar Pradesh targeting the ruling SP after Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav questioned its authenticity.

With a clarity from where exactly the meat sample was found yet to emerge, a report prepared by a forensic lab in Mathura concluded that it was beef, eight months after the attack set off a fierce debate over intolerance and political slugfest. The meat was said to have been found in a garbage dump outside the victim’s house while some reports said it was recovered from the freezer inside.

The finding was in contrast to the preliminary report of an enquiry by the Uttar Pradesh Veterinary department which said the meat over which Mohammad Akhlaq, 52, was lynched on September 28 last in Dadri on rumours that his family stored and ate beef was mutton of ‘goat progeny’.

With UP headed for a crucial assembly polls next year, BJP MP Yogi Adityanath hit out at the Samajwadi Party(SP) for questioning the authenticity of the report, alleging they only want votes. He also demanded registration of cow slaughter case against Akhlaq’s family.

He said the report has put UP government, opposition parties at the Centre and a section of media in a spot.

“They are mum on this report. The innocent Hindus arrested in the matter should be immediately released and a case of cow slaughter be registered against Akhlaq’s family,” he said in Gorakhpur.

“I also demand that the state government should withdraw all facilities given to his (Akhlaq’s) family,” he said, adding the report has “exposed” those who questioned the Hindu community and the Modi government and who led the intolerance debate that had raged for months.

Akhilesh Yadav said nothing objectionable was found at Akhlaq’s house.

“Where was the sample sent, who received it? There was nothing objectionable in his house. Every eye is on this matter. Everyone wants that the victim’s family should get justice as murder had taken place.

“After this incident, there was debate in the world regarding what to eat and speak. I think one should not get involved in such matters,” Yadav told reporters in Ambedkar Nagar district.

Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan said it was “really unfortunate” that Yadav was questioning the authenticity of a report since he wants to “politically satisfy” a particular constituency. The report has been submitted by a state-run university, he said, adding, Yadav must admit the report.

The testing was done by the Forensic laboratory of the Uttar Pradesh University of Veterinary Services(Animal Husbandry) in Mathura.

Akhlaq’s brother maintained nothing objectionable was recovered from their house. Beef eating is not a crime in Uttar Pradesh, only cow slaughter is.

Sanjay Rana, father of Vishal, one of the accused, demanded that a case be registered against Akhlaq’s family.