Union minister Jayant Chaudhary expressed his vision for the Uttar Pradesh Police to be empowered to the extent that it no longer needs to resort to encounters. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Jayant Chaudhary, who serves as the Minister of State (independent charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, emphasized that the “fear of the uniform” should suffice in deterring criminal activities. He articulated his thoughts in Hindi, stating that he desires a police force robust enough to handle crime without needing to open fire, underscoring the importance of instilling fear in wrongdoers simply through their presence.
Jayant Chaudhary highlighted the complexities involved in police encounters, noting that such incidents are subject to investigation. He urged political leaders to exercise caution when discussing these encounters until thorough inquiries are concluded. His remarks reflect a growing concern over the use of lethal force by law enforcement and the political implications that arise from it.
As the chief of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Jayant Chaudhary acknowledged the party’s role as part of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In response to queries about how many seats the RLD intends to contest in the upcoming bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, he clarified that the NDA would be contesting these elections collectively, with the RLD operating in coordination with its allies. He indicated that decisions regarding candidate selection, campaign strategies, and symbols would be made collaboratively, reinforcing the idea that no party within the NDA would operate independently.
When asked about the BJP’s claim to contest from the Meerapur seat, Jayant Chaudhary reiterated that the NDA is prepared to compete for all available seats in the upcoming bypolls. He noted that the RLD MLA from the Meerapur assembly constituency, Chandan Chauhan, previously won the Bijnor Lok Sabha seat, emphasizing the party’s strength in the region.
The ten assembly seats up for bypolls include Karhal, Milkipur, Katehari, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Meerapur, Phulpur, Majhawan, and Sisamau. The announcement of the election dates is still pending. Notably, the Sisamau seat became vacant due to the disqualification of Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Irfan Solanki, who was sentenced to jail in a criminal case. Jayant Chaudhary’s comments reflect a broader dialogue about law enforcement practices in Uttar Pradesh and the political landscape as the state prepares for forthcoming elections.
