 Brijlal has accused the Samajwadi Party of pursuing appeasement politics){kind=link}
Former UP DGP Brijlal accused the Samajwadi Party of appeasement politics by alleging an attempt to organise namaz at a temple in Ayodhya
July 10, 2026: Former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Brijlal has accused the Samajwadi Party of pursuing appeasement politics after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath alleged that prayers were offered on the steps of Hanumangarhi during the SP government. Recalling an incident from his police service, Brijlal claimed that an attempt was made to organise namaz at a temple in Ayodhya during the Samajwadi Party regime. He alleged that then Inspector General (Law and Order) VN Rai had sought to facilitate the prayer, but the move was stopped after then Senior Superintendent of Police Rajeev Sabharwal alerted him. Brijlal also claimed that police later removed prayer mats laid outside a Mahant’s residence and alleged that government-backed iftar events reflected the SP’s policy of appeasement.
Former IPS officer VN Rai strongly denied the allegations, calling Brijlal’s remarks “laughable.” Speaking to ABP News, Rai said the incident referred to was likely from around 2004 and questioned the suggestion that a junior officer like Rajeev Sabharwal could have overruled him. He dismissed the allegation that he had tried to organise namaz at a temple, saying such claims were completely unfounded.
Rai also defended the practice of hosting iftar gatherings at government residences, stating that such events were common during his tenure and continue even today. He questioned why such gatherings should be viewed as controversial, insisting there was nothing improper about them. The exchange has added a fresh political dimension to the ongoing debate over Ayodhya and allegations of appeasement politics in Uttar Pradesh.