A controversial Income Tax raid on the premises of Uttar Pradesh’s only BSP MLA, Umashankar Singh, has drawn fierce condemnation from state minister Dinesh Pratap Singh. The operation, amid the lawmaker’s prolonged health battle, has been decried as inhumane, prompting calls for accountability from enforcement agencies.
In a series of posts on X, Minister Singh highlighted his personal stake—his daughter’s shaadi at the Rasra MLA’s Ballia home. He elaborated on Umashankar’s ordeal: over two years dangling between life and death, all ventures shuttered, every penny funneled into life-support, and homebound isolation preventing even brief legislative duties.
Singh’s sharpest rebuke targeted the raid’s logistics. ‘Even medical personnel are barred from entering his residence now. Should tragedy strike, these agencies bear full responsibility,’ he asserted, invoking rare judicial mercies for dire circumstances.
The department’s Wednesday sweeps extended to the MLA’s Lucknow abode, Sonbhadra addresses, and Ballia base. While officials cite tax evasion leads, the humanitarian angle dominates headlines.
This episode transcends party lines, with a BJP heavyweight shielding a BSP figure, signaling potential cracks in the establishment’s facade. It reignites discussions on protocol for raids involving vulnerable targets—be they politicians or civilians.
With the assembly session underway, the timing amplifies sensitivities. As backlash builds, the government faces pressure to address procedural oversights, ensuring future actions prioritize life over ledgers.