A criminal’s only identity is their crime; Akhilesh should refrain from baseless remarks : Cabinet Minister Jaiveer Singh

Lucknow : In response to the violent incident in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Jaiveer Singh held a press conference to provide detailed information on the situation. He accused Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav of giving the incident a casteist spin and clarified that the Uttar Pradesh government never uses caste as a basis for action against criminals. The minister also emphasized the administration’s swift response and affirmed the government’s commitment to take strict measures moving forward.

Jaiveer Singh stated that as soon as information about the Etawah incident was received, senior police officials rushed to the spot. Based on the preliminary investigation, four individuals were arrested, followed by the detention of 15 more people involved in the violence perpetrated by local miscreants. Adequate police forces have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. The minister said the incident appears to be the result of a well-planned conspiracy, and that the government is determined to uncover the truth and take strict action against those responsible. He assured that anyone taking the law into their own hands—regardless of caste or community—will not be spared.

During the press conference, Jaiveer Singh strongly accused Akhilesh Yadav of trying to give the incident a casteist angle. He said Akhilesh made reckless statements without verifying the facts and tried to portray the incident as targeting the Brahmin community. He claimed that the violence was incited by Akhilesh’s statements. “It has always been the SP’s strategy to divide society along caste and class lines for political gain. This is condemnable and unacceptable,” Singh said. He added that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) respects Sanatan culture, not casteism. “Our aim is to take the state forward on the path of progress. The people have seen through the conspiracy of those who want to drag Uttar Pradesh back to the era of chaos and hooliganism that existed before 2012,” he said.

The minister stressed that the Uttar Pradesh government punishes criminals based on their crimes, not their caste. “A criminal’s only identity is their crime. Whoever challenges the law will be punished severely,” he said. He also clarified that no action will be taken against any innocent person and that all steps will be based on evidence and facts.

Jaiveer Singh claimed that some people are disturbed by Uttar Pradesh’s progress and its riot-free status. “Today, UP is a revenue surplus state. This peace and progress are intolerable to some. In their desperation to gain power, they are resorting to lowly tactics and plotting to push the state back into casteism and lawlessness,” he said. Referring to the dismantling of mafia networks and improvements in law and order since 2017, he said the public had ousted such forces from power for promoting goondaism and anarchy.

Citing BJP policies, the minister said the party respects all castes and religions. “We honour great personalities like Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Ved Vyas, Sant Ravidas, Jai Gurudev, and Baba Ramdev not based on their caste, but on their virtues and contributions. Sanatan Dharma respects virtue and duty, not caste,” he said. He pointed to the grand construction at the birthplace of Sant Ravidas in Varanasi and the honouring of sanitation workers during the Mahakumbh as examples of BJP’s commitment to uplifting the oppressed. In contrast, he accused the SP of changing the names of institutions named after Hindu and Dalit icons like Kabir Das and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during their rule.

Jaiveer Singh also accused the SP of shielding criminals. Referring to the Raju Pal and Umesh Pal murder cases, he said SP provided protection to the murderers involved. “SP’s tradition, character, and agenda have always been about dividing society and promoting criminals,” he alleged. He appealed to the public to understand the Etawah incident based on facts and not fall for rumours or provocation. “Whether related to religious discourse or today’s violence, whoever is found guilty will face strict action,” he asserted.

Advising Akhilesh Yadav, Jaiveer Singh said, “Governments come and go, but no one should try to disturb peace, harmony, and the environment of the state.” He urged the SP chief to refrain from making baseless and misleading statements. The minister informed that all districts in the state have been alerted following the incident. “Any lapses will be investigated. Offenders will be identified based on evidence and clear identification. No innocent person will be harmed, but criminals will not be spared under any circumstances,” he concluded.