Congress panel sees ‘Gujarat pattern’ in Faizabad violence

“The use of OBC forces — Yadavs, Kevats and Muraons (Koiris) — as cannon folder against Muslims; the encouragement of the mob by the local police; the mysterious shortage of water of fire brigade teams and the pre-planned attack on Muslim targets only recalls the Gujarat pattern,” the chairman of the front, Amaresh Misra, said in Lucknow on Saturday.

“Among other indicators of the impending violence, posters featuring Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and former BJP MLA Lallu Singh began appearing, with slogans like, ‘UP ab Gujarat banega, Faizabad shuruat karega (UP will become Gujarat, it will start at Faizabad)’,” Misra said, adding that he visited Faizabad on Friday on the instructions of AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh.

“Either the facts are not reaching (Chief Minister) Akhilesh Yadav or it is a matter of political maturity,” he added, raising suspicions about the role of Samajwadi Party, BSP and BJP leaders. Among those Misra named was Dimple Pandey, Babulal Yadav, Bikapur MLA Mitrasen Yadav (all from the SP); incumbent BJP MLA Ramchandra Yadav (Rudauli); and MP Mahant Adityanath (Gorakhpur), along with the district administration, the police, the Provincial Armed Constabulary and the Hindu Yuva Vahini.

The Congress panel has also demanded the arrest of Adityanath, several Durga Puja committee members and Dimple Pandey,

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