Anti-India forces attempting to change Atiq Ahmed narrative for political gains: Jay Panda

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Vice President, Baijayant 'Jay' Panda on Monday cautioned people to be aware of the anti-India forces who are reportedly trying to change the narrative in the gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed’s murder for political gains.

As per Panda, there are some people who have been trying to give Atiq a clean chit just because he was shot dead while in police custody. “They are forgetting Atiq was the most dreaded gangster in Uttar Pradesh and he had more than 100 criminal cases pending against him. We should beware of people who are still trying to give him a clean chit,” he said.

“Atiq and his family were involved in murder, extortion, land grabbing, and many more cases. He should not be given a clean chit by us. There is a judicial process for that. We should remember that the UP government is taking stern steps to uproot the 'mafia raj' from the state. However, the commission set up by the government will explain further details after they finish their inquiry on this particular incident," Panda added.

Panda further said that there are some anti-India forces, who have been trying to change the narrative since the murder of Atiq for political gains. They have become active on social media and referring Atiq as a former MP. Though they are not wrong in calling him an MP, but before being a politician, Atiq was a gangster and he remained so till his death. It is a pre-planned narrative being set to give Atiq a clean chit, he said.

Sixty-two-year-old Atiq Ahmed's first criminal case was 44 years ago in 1979 when he was accused of murder. He rose to prominence in the 90s and early 2000s when Uttar Pradesh experienced political instability and multiple rounds of President's rule.

Reports say Atiq became the boss of extortion and land-grabbing syndicate in Prayagraj, the then Allahabad, and in other parts of eastern UP. This was also the time Atiq entered politics.

Atiq had 100 named FIRs against him and was facing 54 trials. He had assets worth Rs 11,000 crore.

He was shot dead along with his brother Ashraf on Saturday night by three armed miscreants while being taken for a medical check-up by the police in Prayagraj.