Cases of Mob Lynching Due to Economic Disparity: Meenakshi Lekhi

While Lekhi drew this analogy, BJP Minister Hansraj Ahir told the Rajya Sabha that the govt has no data on lynching.

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi

(Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

The incidents of mob lynching are a result of economic disparity, BJP member Meenakshi Lekhi said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, 18 July.

Speaking during Zero Hour, Lekhi said the Supreme Court has spoken about “mobocracy” on Tuesday.

Giving instances of the killing of Bengal migrant worker Manik Roy and an adivasi youth Madhu in Kerala, Lekhi said these cases of lynchings were on account of economic issues.

“It is because of economic disparity,” she said.

Last month, Roy was beaten up by a group of men in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala on the suspicion that he had stolen a hen. He had later succumbed to injuries. In February, a 30-year old tribal man Madhu was beaten by an irate mob, accusing him of theft.

No Specific Data on Lynching: Centre

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that the government does not maintain specific data on lynching incidents in the country.

Ahir said the state governments were competent to deal with such offences under the existing laws.

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) does not maintain specific data with respect to lynching incidents in the country.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has, however, issued advisory to the states and Union territories from time to time to maintain law and order and ensure that any person who takes law into his/her own hand is punished promptly as per (the) law.

Hansraj Ahir said while replying to a written question

The minister's response comes a day after the Supreme Court had asked Parliament to consider enacting a new law legislation to deal with incidents of mob lynchings and vigilantism on Tuesday saying “horrendous acts of mobocracy” cannot be allowed to become a new norm.