NOW, POLITICAL SLUGFEST IN THE OFFING

LUCKNOW : The Yogi Adityanath government’s decision to push for a stringent law to check organised crime is expected to spark a fresh political slugfest between the government and the opposition in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP predictably welcomed the move as the main opposition Samajwadi Party announced its opposition to the proposed Uttar Pradesh Control of Organised Crime law (UPCOCA). Interestingly, the Congress that had in 2007 stalled a BSP government move to bring about a similar law in the state was yet to clear its stand.

“We are still studying the issue,” a Congress leader said.

State BJP chief Ram Achal Rajbhar said it was the Mayawati government that had first thought of a law to check organised crime.

“The BJP government would have to ensure that it is not misused,” said Rajbhar indicating that despite being critical of the Yogi government the BSP might stop short of opposing a law aimed at checking organised crime.

The fringe players in UP politics, including the Nationalist Congress Party, gave a fresh spin to the BJP move with party’s state chief Ramesh Dixit claiming that he feared the proposed law could be used to target the state’s 18% Muslims, the biggest minority group in the most populous state.

“The law is being brought about to target Muslims. We will oppose this,” said Dixit.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, dismissed all opposition to the move as ‘politically motivated.’

State BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, an MP from Chandauli, said, “As we set about the task of restoring law and order that had taken a beating during the 15 years of SP and BSP rule in the state, the proposed law would act as a deterrent for mafia and anti-social elements.”