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Bharat Bandh: Ex-BSP MLA Held for Violence, Mayawati Backs Protest

A former BSP MLA Yogesh Verma, was arrested by UP police as the “primary conspirator” in the violence in Meerut

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A former BSP MLA from Hastinapur, Yogesh Verma, was arrested by UP police as the “primary conspirator” in the Bharat Bandh violence, according to Meerut SSP Manzil Saini. Verma's family claimed that he had been wrongly arrested.

One person was killed, over 70 others, including many policemen, injured while 448 people were arrested as Uttar Pradesh saw widespread violence on a day Dalit groups protested what they claimed was the "dilution" of the provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Some anti-social elements were involved in the protests and they created problems. Some of them had illicit fire arms too. We are conducting a detailed probe and also trying to identify people involved in spreading rumours and misleading Dalits on SC order.
Praveen Kumar, DIG, Law and Order, UP
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Several towns in western UP saw violence and in Meerut, former BSP MLA Yogesh Verma, was among those arrested, police said. There were several incidents of violence in Meerut, including torching of a police post while in the neighbouring Muzaffarnagar, a man was killed and several vehicles were damaged, they added.

BSP Chief Mayawati Backs Protests, Condemns Violence

Expressing her party's support to protests against the Supreme Court order "diluting" provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, BSP supremo Mayawati had earlier on 2 April alleged that some anti-social elements instigated violence leading to loss of lives and damage to properties.

Seeking action against those allegedly inciting violence, she said the state governments should ensure that innocent people opposing the SC order were not harassed.

BSP condemns violence but BJP governments need to extend help to the dead and injured without any bias, she said in a statement.

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Mayawati, however, targeted the Centre saying if it had taken prompt steps, there would not have been the need for a 'Bharat bandh' and "some anti-social elements would not have got the chance to indulge in violence and arson because of government laxity".

Mayawati said that though she was not in Parliament, her politics and struggle outside will force the Narendra Modi government “to kneel down and change its stance”.

The BSP chief added that if innocent people were prosecuted for the violence, the BSP would launch an agitation.

She also said that the judgement was a result of the lackadaisical attitude of the Narendra Modi government on the issue.

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Topics:  Bandh   Bahujan Samaj Party   bharat bandh 

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