Lakhimpur (UP) — On Friday Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that no one will be arrested without any proofs in Lakhimpur-Kheri incidence. No arrests would be made under pressure. He brushed aside the demand for the arrest of Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son.
Speaking on a conclave organized by a private channel Yogi said that opposition party members who visited the families of victims, were just putting up a show of sympathy in front of people. There were several “faces” among them who could be behind the violence.
When Yogi was questioned about the resignation of Union Minister of State Home Ajyam Mishra and arrest of Ashish Mishra he said that everyone is equal in the eyes of law and cannot arrest anyone only on the basis of allegations.
He said, “Everyone is equal in the eyes of law. Nobody, irrespective of his or her party affiliation, will be spared. However, as per Supreme Court, we cannot arrest anyone on the basis of mere allegations levelled by someone. A case has been filed on the basis of a written complaint and investigation into the incident is under way. Until we get any proofs we cannot arrest anyone.”
The Chief Minister categorically said that so far no evidence has come to the fore against Ashish in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. The CM said that it is also the ruling of the Allahabad High Court that there should be sufficient evidence before arrests are made. “We will not arrest anyone on mere allegations. Previously, we have arrested high-profile leaders, including BJP MLA and Opposition leaders.
“These arrests were made only after proper investigation. In this case, too, arrests will be made after we have sufficient evidence to arrest a person,” he said.
On the violence of Lakhimpur Kheri, Adityanath said that the Government has ordered a probe into the violence and there is no place of violence in democracy. “Whoever it is, the law is the same for all. The law will treat everyone equally”, he said.
The UP CM said that the law will take its own course and no work will be done in Uttar Pradesh under anyone’s pressure. An SIT, as well as a judicial commission, has been constituted by the Government in this case, he said.
“The arrests of the wanted people have started. There have been many arrests yesterday. Action is going on even today. Fair and strict action will be taken in this entire matter,” he said.
Yogi said the government’s main job following such an incident was to maintain peace and harmony. Opposition leaders who were making a beeline for Lakhimpur were no goodwill messengers.
The CMs of Chhattisgarh and Punjab, he said, had been unable to manage their own states but were targetting his government to hide their failures.
“Where were Rahul and Priyanka and Akhilesh Yadav when Covid was on the rampage? Everyone, including the families of the victims, said that they appreciated the government’s work,” he said. — (Agencies)