Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for spreading "poison" through "lies" over the latter's tweet condemning the recent attack on a elderly Muslim man in UP's Ghaziabad. Yogi demanded that the Congress leader stop "humiliating, defaming the people of Uttar Pradesh".
The attackers allegedly abducted Abdul Samad from an autorickshaw and dragged him to a hut in a nearby forested area, where they reportedly shouted 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Vande Mataram', which they forced him to shout as well, as they punched and beat him with wooden sticks.
A video of the vile incident, in which Samad can be seen pleading with his attackers, has gone viral on the internet.
Following the video that went viral, Rahul Gandhi commenting on the issue said, "I am not ready to believe that true devotees of Shri Ram can do this. Such cruelty is far from humanity and is shameful for both society and religion"
Responding to his tweet, CM Yogi Adityanath took a dig at the Congress leader and said "Speak the truth" which you have never done in life. You should be ashamed that even after the police told the truth, you are engaged in spreading poison in the society. In the greed of power, humanity is being humiliated. Stop humiliating, defaming the people of Uttar Pradesh".
However, Ghaziabad police ruled out any communal angle saying Sufi Abdul Samad was attacked by six men - Hindus and Muslims - who were unhappy over the amulets he had sold them.
The arrested youth have been identified as Kalloo and Adil. Apart from them, Polly, Arif, Mushahid and Parvesh Gurjar were also involved in the incident, Senior Superintendent of Police Amit Pathak said.