Vikas Dubey ‘encounter’: What it means for BJP govt in UP

It remains to be seen what shape state’s caste-driven political cauldron takes in run-up to Assembly polls

New Delhi: The largest state in the county that sends 80 MPs to the 545-member Lok Sabha will go to polls less than two years from now. The term of the current BJP government led by Yogi Adityanath is expiring in March 2022.
It is in such a politically dynamic situation that dreaded criminal Vikas Dubey was today killed by the police in an encounter, a week after the horrific Bikru incident in which eight UP cops were killed by him and his accomplices.
Opposition SP, BSP and Congress have pulled out all the plugs, raising questions about the police operation that ended the free run Dubey had in the state for past so many years. In counter, the ruling BJP is reminding that all these criminals gained ground during their regime and now they are also doubting the credibility of the force which is cleaning up the state.
Political observers following the situation are sensing two broad outcomes in the multi-layered situation unfolding in the state-driven by caste and community equations. For one, after the happenings in the past one week, the killing/encounters of criminals belonging to the so-called high-caste Hindu community, the Opposition may find it hard to question the ‘dharmnirpekshata’ (secularism) of the Yogi Adityanath-led government in the state.
Alongside, there is also the possibility of resentment in the particular section these criminals belonged to.
“Remember, Bihar and UP are two states where it is important to balance political equations. They (Dubey and Gang) were criminals and needed to be brought to the book. But there also seems to be underlying anger in the upper caste Hindus against Adityanath, a ‘thakur’, for a while now.
“Nobody is denying that criminals need to be given exemplary punishment. But can the current situation be used to widen the gap that already exists, that remains to be seen,” sources say.
Amid the growing criticism of the encounters are the observations that Dubey’s protectors will go scot-free, both in politics and police. “Dubey may have been killed to prevent him from opening his mouth and also boost the morale of the police force but the real problem remains, the politician-police system that provides patronage to criminals,” they say.
Meanwhile, speculations are there about growing “Brahmin- Thakur” rivalry. “Adityanath, a thakur is at the helm in the state. Probably that is the reason Dubey surrendered in MP with the help of someone from his caste,” they say.
Travel in UP’s hinterland and the hold criminals have on people becomes clear.
Sources say the biggest message to all criminals by Adityanath is that they should “stay within limits or be prepared for the worst”. Adityanath is also clear that he wants to end it.
In fact the administration is prepared for the criticism of the encounter. He doesn’t have to bother about legal/moral issues because he is aware that a large majority of people would be happy.
“Dons like Dubey have been encouraged, patronised by all parties, most by the SP and then BSP. In the past 15 years, law and order became a major issue with politicisation of police force increasing with. Yadavs were hired during the SP regime, resulting in a corrupt, inefficient and politicised police force and deteriorating law and order,” say observers.
Today the SP, the BSP and the Congress may blame the BJP but the state is in current pitiful situation because of all political parties, including the BJP. It remains to be seen what shape UP’s caste-driven political cauldron takes in run-up to Assembly elections.