News Brief
Samajwadi Party Ousts MLA Pooja Pal After She Credited Yogi Adityanath For Justice In Her Husband's Murder Case
MLA Pooja Pal (Image Source: X)
The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Thursday (14 August) expelled its MLA Pooja Pal for “anti-party activities” and “indiscipline,” after she openly praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy against crime, the Hindustan Times reported.
During the 24-hour Vision 2047 debate in the state Assembly, Pal, widow of slain former BSP legislator Raju Pal, credited Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for delivering justice in the case involving gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed.
“Everyone knows who murdered my husband. The Chief Minister heard me when no one else did. His zero-tolerance policy led to the killing of criminals like Atiq Ahmed. Today, the entire state looks at him with trust,” she said in the House.
In a pointed remark, she added, “Mere pati ke hatyare Atiq Ahmed ko Mukhya Mantri ne mitti mein milaane ka kaam kiya” (The Chief Minister buried my husband’s murderer, Atiq Ahmed).
Raju Pal was shot dead in January 2005 in Prayagraj, shortly after his wedding.
In February 2023, Umesh Pal, a key witness in the case, was also gunned down in broad daylight in the city’s Sulem Saray area.
Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, both prime accused, were arrested but were shot dead on 15 April 2023 by men posing as journalists while being taken for a medical check-up.
