Lucknow: In a major setback for the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad high court ruled on Thursday that the state government cannot withdraw terrorism cases on its own without the Centre’s consent.
The Lucknow bench of the high court held that most of those accused of terrorism were booked under Central laws, and therefore the state cannot withdraw the cases without informing the Centre.
The ruling is a major political setback for the Samajwadi Party before the Lok Sabha elections because the party, in its manifesto, had promised to withdraw these cases against “innocent Muslims”.
Senior UP minister Azam Khan told reporters that the government would study the options available to it, and would appeal. “Our law department will look into it,” he said.
The BJP welcomed the ruling, and state chief of the party, Laxmikant Bajpai said it was a slap on the face of the Akhilesh government.
“Why should persons belonging to one community be released, that too when charged with grievous crimes and anti-national activities?” he asked.
It may be recalled that during the UP assembly elections last year, the Samajwadi Party leaders had promised to review terror charges against Muslim youth who, according to them, had been falsely framed in terror cases during the previous Mayawati government’s regime.
The move was designed to find favour with Muslims, who are seen to be the SP’s most loyal and crucial vote-bank.
