Up bypoll: Bid to disrupt poll rigging debate, says Samajwadi Party

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused BJP of orchestrating the violence in Sambhal over a mosque survey to divert attention from allegedly rampant malpractice in the bypolls, in which BJP won seven of nine seats. Akhilesh, whose party lost two of its four bastions at stake, said the clash was unleashed to disrupt a meet convened to discuss poll malpractice in Kundarki.

He said, "I don't want to go into the technicalities of the issue, but the other party in the dispute was not allowed a hearing. Was this intentionally done to stoke tempers and disrupt the debate on rigging of polls?"

Union minister Giriraj Singh blamed the violence on those who "lack faith in democratic institutions and the law of the land". Singh accused Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of "supporting such elements and their subversive acts".