Lucknow: The BJP is not the only one keeping mum on the allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Even the Samajwadi Party (SP) and its president Akhilesh Yadav, who are usually quick to target the BJP-led governments at the Center and Uttar Pradesh (UP) over issues ranging from “encounters” to murder . stork craneThe opposition has not joined the chorus demanding action against Brij Bhushan.
The only comments from the SP came from Dimple Yadav, MP from Mainpuri and wife of Akhilesh, and her cousin Dharmendra Yadav, former MP from Badaun, both of whom demanded a fair probe into the matter.
Brij Bhushan, who denies the allegations against him, had last week praised former chief minister Akhilesh for not taking sides in the ongoing wrestlers’ protest.
“I want to thank Akhilesh Yadav. I have known him since childhood,” he told media persons on April 30. “I am older than them. Although we have political differences, Akhilesh knows the truth.
“Among the wrestlers in UP, almost 80 per cent belong to the SP ideology. They (wrestlers) affectionately call me ‘Netaji’. They tell (others) how their Netaji is.
A few days later, Brij Bhushan spoke about his relationship with Akhilesh’s father, the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was a Wrestler Himself in his youth, and other SP leaders talking to a news channel. “I have visited Saifai (the ancestral village of the Yadav family) many times with the wrestlers. Akhilesh came to one of my programs. Mulayam Singh had come in one of my programs. Everyone in UP knows each other’s character.
Dismissing rumors of joining the SP, the former WFI chief said he would continue to work for the BJP and would not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls if the party asked him not to.
Currently representing Kaiserganj, Brij Bhushan is a six-time Lok Sabha MP from Gonda, Kaiserganj and Balrampur constituencies in UP. BJP leaders had told earlier ThePrint said he was a powerful leader who “determines politics and ticket distribution in five constituencies of Gonda, Bahraich, Dumariyaganj, Kaiserganj and Shravasti”.
According to SP insiders, with the general elections round the corner, the party is in wait-and-watch mode over the wrestlers’ allegations against Brij Bhushan.
When asked about SP’s stand on this issue, party spokesperson Manoj Singh Kaka talked about incidents of crime against women in Uttar Pradesh. Hathras (alleged gangrape and murder) and Unnao (Rape case related to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar) and said that law and order in UP has gone haywire.
“The chief minister (Yogi Adityanath) is only talking about hatred. Look at what happened in Prayagraj – a government sponsored crime (an apparent reference to the recent murder of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf),” he said. “Nobody is interested in talking about the hike in cylinder prices and the plight of the poor.”
SP’s chief spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhary rubbished speculation about the WFI chief joining the party. When pressed for comment on the matter, he said, “There is no substance in such rumours.” “He is in BJP and BJP is trying to save Brij Bhushan.”
‘Brijbhushan key in some constituencies’
A senior SP leader told ThePrint on condition of anonymity that “Brijbhushan Sharan Singh is still an important player in some constituencies and this fact cannot be denied”.
“At least till he is arrested, the party will not make any clear statement on the matter,” he said. If he refrains from action, he (Brijphushan) will keep his options open, especially since he has been an MP from SP (in 2009),” said the leader.
SP’s Gonda unit leaders pointed out that Brij Bhushan had good relations with Mulayam Singh and had served as an MP with Akhilesh in the 15th Lok Sabha.th Lok Sabha, when he was elected from Kaiserganj.
“Mulayam Singh inducted Brij Bhushan into the party in 2008 after he was expelled by the BJP after he cross-voted during that year’s trust vote in Parliament. There were certain conditions in that bargain which were honoured,” the SP leader explained.
The leader said, “Mulayam Singh had brokered a settlement between Brij Bhushan and his friend-turned-foe Pandit Singh (former minister in the SP cabinet), while Pandit Singh accused Brij Bhushan of being involved in a near-fatal attack against him. ” ,
When asked about Brij Bhushan’s admiration for Akhilesh, a man whom he once termed as “final”.Badshah Another senior SP leader from the Mulayam Sultanate said the BJP MPs were “only indulging in pressure tactics”.
“These are pressure tactics. There was a time when he had said much more (about Akhilesh). The SP is closely following these developments and the BJP’s reaction. Brij Bhushan has the support of the Rajput community. What if Will he be able to escape?” the leader asked.
Dimple demanded an ‘impartial investigation’
Akhilesh’s wife Dimple Yadav spoke to media persons on the topic of Brij Bhushan in Mainpuri on Thursday.
Asked about Akhilesh’s silence on the issue, he said, “Our demand is that there should be a fair probe.” Both sides have their own versions. The matter is in the court and the court will decide.”
On Brij Bhushan praising Akhilesh, he said, ‘Now you have to understand what kind of things happen in politics. You have to understand when who praises someone, But the matter is in the eyes of the Supreme Court.
The wrestlers had approached the Supreme Court demanding registration of an FIR against Brij Bhushan. After registering a case against him, the court closed its proceedings in the matter this week.
Last week, SP’s former Badaun MP Dharmendra Yadav also demanded investigation into the allegations and arrest of the accused.
(Editing by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)