Lucknow:
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has sacked a top government official in his state over allegations of assaulting a photo journalist in Lucknow.
Natwar Goel, a member of the ruling Samajwadi Party, was the vice-chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Gram Udyog Board, a post equivalent to a Minister of State in the government.
In his police complaint, the journalist, Ashutosh Gupta, alleged that he was assaulted by Mr Goel and his supporters when he had gone to take photographs of an allegedly unauthorised building that was being constructed after razing down an aided college.
"When I was returning after taking photographs of the construction work, Goel came along with his security personnel and dragged me to his cabin where I was assaulted," Mr Gupta alleged. He also accused Mr Goel of threatening him with dire consequences.
Mr Goel, however, has refuted the charges.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the state party president, sacked Mr Goel from his post as well as from the party over charges of indiscipline.
Senior Superintendent of Police R K Chaturvedi said, "An FIR has been registered on the complaint lodged by the photo journalist and the accused is being questioned to verify the incident. If verified he would be arrested."
The Uttar Pradesh Accredited Journalist Association has condemned the incident and demanded action against the senior official.
The BJP and Congress, too, attacked the Samajwadi Party for the incident. "This is not the first incident...since SP has come to power, the party leaders and office-bearers have been indulging in such incidents," BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathit said.
The 39-year-old chief minister has been battling allegations of lawlessness in his state ever since his party was voted into power earlier this year with a massive landslide.
(With PTI inputs)
Natwar Goel, a member of the ruling Samajwadi Party, was the vice-chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Gram Udyog Board, a post equivalent to a Minister of State in the government.
In his police complaint, the journalist, Ashutosh Gupta, alleged that he was assaulted by Mr Goel and his supporters when he had gone to take photographs of an allegedly unauthorised building that was being constructed after razing down an aided college.
"When I was returning after taking photographs of the construction work, Goel came along with his security personnel and dragged me to his cabin where I was assaulted," Mr Gupta alleged. He also accused Mr Goel of threatening him with dire consequences.
Mr Goel, however, has refuted the charges.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the state party president, sacked Mr Goel from his post as well as from the party over charges of indiscipline.
Senior Superintendent of Police R K Chaturvedi said, "An FIR has been registered on the complaint lodged by the photo journalist and the accused is being questioned to verify the incident. If verified he would be arrested."
The Uttar Pradesh Accredited Journalist Association has condemned the incident and demanded action against the senior official.
The BJP and Congress, too, attacked the Samajwadi Party for the incident. "This is not the first incident...since SP has come to power, the party leaders and office-bearers have been indulging in such incidents," BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathit said.
The 39-year-old chief minister has been battling allegations of lawlessness in his state ever since his party was voted into power earlier this year with a massive landslide.
(With PTI inputs)
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