“Government trying to cover up entire matter”: SP spokesperson on Hathras stampede

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 10 (ANI): Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand on Wednesday spoke about the SIT report on the Hathras stampede and said that the government by not taking action on big people wants to cover up the entire matter.

Speaking with ANI, Chand said, “The SP from the first day is saying that the BJP didn’t take actions that it should have taken, and they did not fulfil the responsibilities of the administration and the government. The government wants to cover up the entire matter.”

The SP spokesperson further claimed that the SIT report is trying to save big people. “The government by taking action on small people wants to end this matter completely.”

He added further, “The party believes that the families who have lost their loved ones should be given compensation, and the ones who are injured should be treated. Efforts should be made to ensure that administrative failure does not happen in the future.”

Emphasising on party’s belief that the Hathras case is a failure of the government, Chand said, “The government should accept its mistake and strict action should be taken against big people.”

After five days of intensive investigation into the case of the death of 121 devotees due to a stampede in the Satsang of Suraj Pal Singh alias Bhole Baba in Sikandrarao of Hathras, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has submitted its report to the government on Tuesday.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the stampede in Hathras recommended action against six officials for negligence in performing their duties, following which they have been suspended from their services.

The local SDM, CO, Tehsildar, Inspector, and Chowki in charge have been held responsible for negligence in performing their duties. The suspended officials include Sub- the District Magistrate of Sikandrarao, the Police Circle Officer of Sikandrarao, the Station Officer of Sikandrarao, the Tehsildar of Sikandrarao, Chowki Incharge of Kachora, and Chowki Incharge of Pora.

The SP leader also talked about the Unnao accident and called the incident unfortunate and sad. He said, “The party urges the government to provide them compensation.”

The Unnao incident occurred at 5:15 am today when a double-decker sleeper bus travelling from Motihari, Bihar to Delhi hit a milk tanker from behind on the Agra-Lucknow expressway near Gadha village in the Behta Munjawar Police Station area. 18 people were killed in the accident, 19 were injured. Six of the injured were referred to Lucknow, while the rest were taken to the District Hospital in Unnao for better treatment, according to the officials. Twenty people managed to escape unhurt in the incident.

Chand also expressed his views on Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving Russia’s highest civilian honour, he said, “The party congratulates the Prime Minister. He was representing the nation and this is not a topic of politics. However, the Samajwadi Party asks one question. When PM Modi will go to Manipur? When he will meet the victims of Hathras?”

Notably, PM Modi on Tuesday received the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, Russia’s most prestigious civilian honour. He received the honour from President Vladimir Putin for his outstanding efforts to promote partnership and friendship between India and Russia. Upon receiving the honour, PM Modi thanked Putin and Russia saying that it was a ‘samman’ for 140 crore Indians and a reflection of the centuries-old friendship between the two countries.