The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has accused Uttar Pradesh police of triggering violence in Varanasi saying pictures taken during 'Pratikar Yatra' clearly shows that they moved away from their motto of 'Mitra Police' and torched vehicles and beat innocent people mercilessly.
BJP spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak also slammed Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav saying it seems that the government has lost control over its force.
"The pictures taken during 'Pratikar Yatra' in Varanasi has exposed the self-claimed friendly face of UP police," Pathak said, adding that that in pictures it was clearly visible how police and PAC personnel were torching vehicles and beating innocent people mercilessly.
"The state government claimed police to be '<g data-gr-id="20">mitra</g> police'. Even the media persons present on the spot were not spared. It was police which triggered violence in Varanasi," he alleged. He said that it was surprising that the tech-<g data-gr-id="21">savy</g> Chief Minister failed to take cognisance of these pictures.
"It's unfortunate that CM, who is indicating towards others for making efforts of triggering riots in the state, has failed to take <g data-gr-id="17">congnisance</g> of the failure of his own force," Pathak said. The BJP spokesperson said that while saints and seers were being arrested, no action was being taken against erring policemen.