Mayawati questions exclusion of Surajpal's name in Hathras stampede charge sheet

    Lucknow, Oct 3 (PTI) BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday questioned the exclusion of self-proclaimed godman Surajpal alias Bhole Baba's name from the 3,200-page charge sheet in the July 2 Hathras stampede case.
    The charge sheet in the stampede at Phulrai village, which led to 121 deaths, was filed in a court in Hathras on Tuesday.
    Mayawati alleged that the exclusion of Surajpal from the list of 11 accused meant that he enjoyed the patronage of the state government, even as the self-styled godman's lawyer described it as an "attempt to defame Sanatan Dharma" and "malign the government".
    Surajpal's name was not mentioned among the accused in the FIR.
    Devprakash Madhukar, the main organiser and fundraiser of the July 2 congregation, was the sole named accused besides "other organisers and sevadar (volunteers) - names, address unknown".
    The police arrested 11 accused, including Madhukar, in the case. One of them, Manju Yadav, is out on bail on orders of the Allahabad High Court while others remain behind the bars, according to their lawyer.
    "The missing name of Surajpal alias Bhole Baba from the list of accused in the Hathras-satsang-stampede incident which led to 121 deaths, mostly those of women and children, is anti-people politics. This proves that such people enjoy the patronage of the state government, which is not right," Mayawati posted on X.
    "As per the media, the tragic incident in Sikandrarao and the submission of 2,300 page charge sheet in the incident mentions 11 accused but is the state government's silence on Baba Surajpal justified? Will such a government attitude be helpful in curbing such incidents in future? People are worried," she added.
    While the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister stated the charge sheet to be 2,300-page long in her X post, A P Singh, the defence lawyer in the case on Wednesday said it was 3,200-page long.
    Mayawati had earlier also hit out at the state government over the matter, alleging that the SIT report on the Hathras stampede appeared "politically motivated".
    Responding to Mayawati's accusation, lawyer Singh, who also represents Surajpal, said, "This is an attempt to defame Sanatan Dharma and malign the government."
    "One fails to understand what is troubling the former chief minister so much that she is still flagging the unfortunate incident, unmindful of the people's sorrow. Why is she out to defame Narayan Sakar? Could it be due to jealousy about how a person from Dalit-poor background has become so popular while preaching religion?" Singh asked.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)