During the Winter Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the Opposition of ignoring violence against Hindus in Sambhal, citing that 209 Hindus have been killed in communal incidents in the region since 1947. Adityanath underscored that riots have plagued Sambhal for decades, yet no action or acknowledgment was made by previous governments or opposition leaders.
“Riots in Sambhal began right after independence in 1947. A single killing was recorded that year, followed by six more in 1948. Between 1958 and 1962, multiple riots occurred, with five deaths in 1976. The 1978 riots were particularly horrifying, with 184 Hindus burned alive in a mass attack that led to curfews lasting for months,” Adityanath stated. He further noted incidents of violence through the 1980s and 1990s, culminating in a total of 209 Hindu deaths by 1996.
Adityanath accused the Opposition of turning a blind eye to these tragedies. “Since 1947, not a single word has been spoken for the innocent Hindu victims. Those shedding crocodile tears today stood silent when Hindus were massacred,” he said.
The CM also recounted the gruesome events of the 1978 riots, where a Hindu moneylender and those seeking refuge in his home were targeted. “They were surrounded, brutally attacked, and murdered in the most inhuman ways. Yet, leaders who claim to champion communal harmony were nowhere to be seen then,” he added.
Adityanath contrasted this violent history with the improved law and order situation under his government. Citing NCRB data, he claimed that from 2017 onward, communal riots in Uttar Pradesh have decreased by 97-99%. He stated, “There have been no major riots in Uttar Pradesh since 2017. Compare this to the Samajwadi Party’s rule from 2012 to 2017, when 815 communal riots took place, leading to 192 deaths, or the BSP’s rule from 2007 to 2011, which saw 616 communal incidents and 121 deaths.”
