Scramble For Biryani: Violent Clashes In Election Party Organised By Bijnor Congress Candidate Nasimuddin Siddiqui

Several Congress cadres were injured after clashes broke out among supporters of Congress candidate Nasimuddin Siddiqui in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnafar over biryani, which was being served at an election meeting being held without permission, India TV reports.

The election meeting was reportedly organised at the residence of former MLA Maulana Jameel, a former BSP legislator who too recently switched over to the Congress, at Tadheda village under Kakroli police station on Saturday. Biryani was to be served for lunch after the meeting, but clashes erupted as those present there scrambled for the first serving, the officials said. Police rushed to the spot and dispersed the violent mob.

Nine people were reportedly arrested as authorities lodged a police case following the incident. Siddique, once a trusted lieutenant of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and long regarded as the party’s most prominent Muslim face, recently moved to Rahul Gandhi’s camp, merging his Rashtriya Bahujan Morcha with Congress, an outfit floated after being expelled from the BSP for alleged "anti-party" activities after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls last year.

Siddiqui is being fielded as the Congress candidate from Bijnor Lok Sabha seat. The constituency comprises of 30 per cent Muslim population which plays a decisive role in electing the winner.

Siddiqui is pitted in a triangular against BSP’s Malook Nagar and Bharatiya Janata Party’s sitting MP Bhartendra Singh. Bijnor parliamentary seat consists of five assembly segments spreading across three districts of Western UP - Bijnor, Muzaffarnagar and Meerut.

Commenting on the incident, Circle Officer Ram Mohan Sharma said a case has been lodged against 34 persons including Jameel and his son Naeem Ahmad under various sections of the IPC and for violation of the model code of conduct. Nine persons have been arrested so far in connection with the incident, he said, adding that security in the village has been tightened and additional forces have been deployed to check any further violence.