Day later, CM meets victims’ kin

Tribune news service

Lucknow, July 21

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday visited Umbha and Sapahi villages of Sonbhadra and met the families of Gond tribals killed in a clash over a land dispute four days ago. He also announced enhanced compensation and time-bound inquiry into the killings.

The development elicited a quick response from Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who, taking a jibe at Adityanath, said “acknowledging one’s duty is good”. She said the UP government has acted only after the Congress came out in strong support of the tribals.

The CM today underlined a Samajwadi Party connection to the killings. He alleged that the village head, his brother and many others involved in the incident were associated with the SP. Mounting an attack on the Congress, he said: “This incident is a big political conspiracy. The foundations were laid in 1955 when this land was transferred to a trust created by a Congress Rajya Sabha MP. In 1989, a Congress government in UP transferred the land to individual members of the trust.” He said an inquiry report into all the wrongdoings since 1952 has been sought within 10 days.

The CM announced an enhanced compensation of Rs 18.5 lakh each to the families of those killed and Rs 2.5 lakh to the injured. In a tweet, Priyanka said, “I welcome  UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s visit to Sonbhadra. Standing with the affected people is the duty of the government. Acknowledging one’s duty is good.”

‘At last, govt acted’

Only when thousands of Congress workers and justice-loving people extended their support to the affected families of Umbha, the UP Govt felt that some serious incident has taken place.  — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress leader