Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the Samajwadi Party, paid a visit to the residence of the late Mukhtar Ansari, a once-infamous mafia-turned-politician, in Ghazipur on Sunday. Expressing his hope for truth and justice regarding Ansari's demise, Yadav conveyed his shock over Ansari's prior concerns about being poisoned while in jail. Speaking to the press after meeting Ansari's family, Yadav emphasized the importance of uncovering the truth surrounding Ansari's death.
Although the government cited cardiac arrest as the cause of Ansari's passing on March 28, his family contends that he was poisoned while in custody. Yadav, in an effort to console the grieving family, criticized the erosion of trust in institutions since the BJP assumed power. He highlighted instances of public desperation for justice, including self-immolation protests at the chief minister's office, and raised concerns about custodial deaths, alleging that such incidents were rampant in Uttar Pradesh.
Accusing the government of neglecting development and farmers' welfare, Yadav remarked on the BJP's dwindling credibility, evident in their election rhetoric. He questioned whether the government was orchestrating incidents for political gain, citing multiple instances of paper leaks and unemployment woes in the state.
Yadav lauded the Ansari family's contributions to the welfare of the underprivileged, noting Mukhtar's electoral success from jail and his family's legacy of involvement in the freedom struggle. He criticized the government's attempt to obscure Mukhtar's true persona, emphasizing his family's noble heritage.
Umar Ansari, Mukhtar's son, expressed gratitude for Yadav's visit, describing him as a guardian figure. The Samajwadi Party has nominated Mukhtar's brother, Afzal Ansari, as a candidate from Ghazipur, aiming to uphold the family's political legacy. Afzal previously won the seat in the 2019 elections under the BSP banner, defeating BJP's Manoj Sinha.
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