Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, on Monday resigned his post after he was named an accused in the killing of a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Pratapgarh district.
A five-time Independent MLA from Kunda in Pratapgarh district, Mr. Singh’s resignation was accepted by Governor B.L. Joshi.
On quitting the Cabinet, Mr. Singh said he did not want the Samajwadi Party to earn a bad name. Pleading not guilty to the police official’s killing, the MLA, however, said he was not afraid of going to jail (jail se darta nahin hoon).
Two persons, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia-ul-Haque, were shot dead in the Hathgawan area in Pratapgarh district on Saturday. Haque’s wife had alleged that her husband was killed at the behest of Mr. Singh. It was on the basis of her complaint at the Kunda police station that a case was filed against Mr. Singh on Sunday.
With the Legislature in session, the Akhilesh Yadav government had to face a piquant situation. While the Opposition took the government to task in the House, the slain police officer’s wife staged a dharna in Deoria and refused to allow the burial of her husband until all the accused were arrested. In the Vidhan Sabha, Mr. Yadav urged Haque’s wife to allow the last rites to be performed. Mr. Yadav assured the House that action would be taken “without pressure from any quarter.”
Mr. Singh, who was present in the Assembly when the issue was discussed, blamed it on the inspector of Kunda police station for provoking the mob to resort to violence and arson. “The inspector opened fire and in retaliation, firing started from the other side,” he said.
