Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday summoned UP DGP Atul and state chief secretary Anoop Misra and asked them to firmly deal with anyone found to be breaking the law.
Mr Yadav told the two officials that though his government had not yet been sworn in, he wanted all concerned officials to take action against anyone found indulging in violence, irrespective of his political affiliations.
He told the two officials that they would be held responsible if any more incidents of violence took place.
Talking to reporters, state SP president Akhilesh Yadav, meanwhile, promised to take action against anyone from his party, found to be violating the law. “There have been a number of unfortunate incidents in the past two days and we have taken a stern view of it. We are repeatedly asking party workers to maintain restraint but some elements are trying to malign the image of the Samajwadi Party by indulging in violence. Some officers are also trying to defame us because they presume that they will be shifted out of their posts,” he said.
Replying to a question, he said that he would even throw people out of the party if necessary to ensure to ensure that fair inquiries can be held. “I have asked our workers to remain calm and polite even if members from other parties try to provoke or instigate them,” he said and added that in Ambedkar Nagar, it was the relatives of a BSP leader who opened fire.
“These people are deliberately trying to provoke violence and malign our image but we will deal sternly with them,” he said.
With Mr Akhilesh Yadav addressing a press conference on Friday, speculation has again soared about his taking over as chief minister. A near-stampede ensued at the party office when he made an appearance and excited party workers jostled out mediapersons in the ensuing melee.
The party’s legislators will meet in Lucknow on Saturday and the final decision regarding the next chief minister will be taken at the meeting.