An anti-riot mock drill which was supposed to train cops has now led to a political upheaval of sorts. BJP activists and other Hindu organisations expressed their outrage over mock rioters waving saffron flags during anti-riot drill at reserve police lines in Allahabad on Friday, saying it was a deliberate attempt to malign Hindus as rioters and terrorists at the behest of Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh.
Condemning the event, Allahabad BJP chief Shashi Varshney said the mock drill had hurt Hindu sentiments and that the police’s brazen display of partisan behaviour was at the behest of Samajwadi Party leadership. She added that the BJP would take up the issue with the both state and Central governments and demand stern action against erring police officials.
When asked about the saffron flag-waving mock rioters, UP DGP said he was unaware of the mock drill. Allahabad SSP K S Emanuel said that the police had no intention of hurting the sentiments of any community of the country or show them in poor light.