'Brahmin' backlash triggers alarm bells in BJP

With the 'Brahmin' outfits taking to streets to protest brutal killing of five members of the community in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareilly district, about 90 kilometres from here, apprehension of a possible backlash from the community has triggered alarm bells in the BJP.
 
The incident has also brought two senior ministers of the Yogi Adityanath cabinet face-to-face putting the government as well as the BJP in an awkward situation.
 
Hundreds of members of the 'Brahmin' community on Sunday held demonstrations in the state capital to register their protest against the Raebareilly massacre. The demonstrators, were led by several 'Brahmin' outfits, slammed the state government for its alleged inaction in the matter and demanded immediate arrest of the accused persons, who belonged to the 'Yadav' community.
 
According to the sources, the members of the community also held demonstrations at many districts in protest against the killing.
 
Reports said that some members of the community also shaved their heads as a mark of protest.
 
Two senior ministers in the government Swami Prasad Maurya and Brijesh Pathak traded charges on the incident accusing each other of ''patronising'' the rival parties involved in the incident.
 
While Maurya said that the victims were ''hardened criminals'' and were ''punished'' by the local villagers, Pathak slammed Maurya and said that it was an attempt to influence the investigation.
 
Amid the face off, the BJP finds itself in a quandary. Its 'Brahmin' leaders have criticised Maurya for defending the culprits. ''Such remarks may affect our support base in the community,'' remarked a senior state BJP leader here.
 
Yogi Adityanath had, soon after the killings, announced a compensation of Rs. five lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased, and directed the police officials to nab the culprits.
 
Five people, all of whom belonged to the 'Brahmin' community, were brutally killed by members of 'Yadav' community at Apta village in Raebareli last month. While three of the victims were shot dead, two others were burnt alive in their vehicle, according to the police. The incident was said to be the fall out of a political rivalry between the two groups.
 
The accused persons, who were supporters of the village 'pradhan' (panchayat chief) had chased the victims when they tried to escape and set their vehicle ablaze after shooting three people dead.