Akhilesh Yadav condemns alleged attack on Mahua Moitra, accuses BJP of ‘fostering political violence’

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday condemned the alleged attack on Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra during a protest in Odisha, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of fostering an atmosphere of political violence against opposition leaders.

The incident reportedly took place during a protest over the alleged death of a college student, where opposition leaders had gathered to demand accountability and justice. Mahua Moitra claimed she was assaulted by police personnel while attempting to march towards the official residence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Reacting to the incident, Akhilesh Yadav took to social media to express solidarity with the TMC MP. He alleged that the BJP was encouraging violence as a political tool and said such incidents reflected the ruling party's intolerance towards dissent.

"The BJP is fostering political violence. The attack on opposition leaders protesting democratically is unacceptable and a matter of grave concern for democracy," Yadav said in his post.

Moitra alleged that she was manhandled during the protest and accused the Odisha Police of using excessive force against demonstrators. Videos circulating on social media showed police attempting to disperse protesters as opposition leaders clashed with security personnel. The authenticity of all the videos could not be independently verified.

The protest was organised by the TMC and supported by several opposition parties following the death of a student, which has sparked widespread political controversy in Odisha. Opposition leaders have demanded a fair investigation into the incident and accused the state government of attempting to suppress protests through police action.

The BJP, however, rejected the allegations levelled by the opposition. Party leaders defended the police action, stating that security personnel acted in accordance with the law after protesters allegedly violated restrictions and attempted to breach security barricades.

The alleged attack on Moitra has drawn reactions from several opposition leaders, with many describing it as an assault on democratic rights and the freedom to protest peacefully. The incident is expected to further intensify the political confrontation between the BJP and the opposition bloc ahead of upcoming electoral battles.

As of now, the Odisha Police have not issued a detailed statement responding specifically to Moitra's allegations. The matter is likely to remain a political flashpoint as both sides continue to trade charges over the handling of the protest.