Uttar Pradesh: Former MP Sanjeev Balyan, Victim Of Caste Divisions In Lok Sabha Election, Strongly Backs Hindu Man Accused Of 'Offending Muslims'

Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath's statement 'batenge to katenge' (we will fall if we get divided) appears to have been etched in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from western Uttar Pradesh, Sanjeev Balyan's mind.

Balyan was elected as a member of parliament (MP) from UP's Muzaffarnagar twice, in 2014 and 2019. However, he lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election to Samajwadi Party's (SP) Harendra Singh Malik.

It is believed that the anger of the Rajput community against the BJP in western UP, along with the alleged damage caused by former MLA, BJP leader Sangeet Som, who is also a Rajput, led to Balyan losing his Lok Sabha seat.

Balyan belongs to the Jat community and is considered the most powerful Jat leader of the BJP in western UP. He has earlier too stood up for Hindu causes and is facing trial for alleged provocative speech before the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.

The most recent incident happened on Monday (21 October) when Balyan reached Budhana, a town in the Muzaffarnagar district and asked the police to take action against a Muslim mob which allegedly created ruckus a couple of days ago.

The chaos happened on 19 October when alleged rumours spread among the Muslim community that the UP Police had released a Brahmin youth Akhil Tyagi. Tyagi was accused of insulting Islam in a social media post.

After a complaint was filed against Tyagi, his family coordinated with the police for his surrender. He was in the police custody itself when a mob of 700 Muslims gathered around the police station and created a ruckus.

Then Circle Officer Gajendra Pal Singh and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Raj Kumar convinced the mob that the accused was in police custody and was not a free man. Despite this, the mob vandalised properties linked to Tyagi on their way back.

Tyagi is the cousin of local BJP leader Pravesh Tyagi. Pravesh informed Balyan about the incident and the latter was quick to respond. He reached the police station and warned officers of a similar mob retaliation if action was not taken.

"The law will work as per rules, not under the pressure of a mob. The ruckus created by the mob will not be tolerated. We also can bring a mob of people to the police station but we do not want to spoil the atmosphere," Balyan was quoted as saying by Jagran.

Balyan alleged that the attack on BJP worker's house was pre-planned. He also admitted that what Tyagi did was wrong but asserted that he was arrested under bailable charges and could be released as per the law.

He urged the police force not to come under the pressure of the Muslim mob and instead take action against those who pelted stones and vandalised properties. Other BJP leaders joined Balyan.

Soon after Balyan's instructions, police arrested 19 people including All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) town president Azam and YouTuber Rashid Jaula.

Deoband Jamia College's first-year students and AIMIM youth wing's district president Ramiz Maviya Usmani are accused of conspiring by forming WhatsApp groups to spread false information.

The police have identified 50 people through CCTV footage and are making efforts to arrest them. The WhatsApp group used for fake news was named Budhana Vidhan Sabha, Amar Ujala reported.

Balyan also reached Tyagi's house and extended support to his family.

In a video shared on his social media handle, he can be seen wondering what if Hindus too had gone out on the streets and said, "Actions will have reactions. Mobocracy will not work."