Harmony must prevail: Akhilesh visits BJP MLA injured while burning his effigy

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday visited a hospital in Lucknow to check on BJP MLA Anupama Jaiswal, who sustained serious burn injuries while setting fire to his effigy during a protest in Bahraich earlier this week.

The incident took place on Saturday during a BJP-led “Mahila Janakrosh March” in Bahraich, organised in support of the Centre’s ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’. Eyewitnesses said flames suddenly flared up—almost like a blast—engulfing the MLA’s face as she attempted to burn the effigy. What began as a routine protest quickly turned into a medical emergency.

Jaiswal was initially rushed to a district hospital and later shifted to Medanta Hospital for advanced treatment, where she is currently undergoing care.

During his visit, Yadav met the MLA and her family members and enquired about her condition. Later, sharing a post on social media platform X, he said, "We do not want flames of discord in society, but harmony and goodwill. Our positive political tradition has taught us this.

"That is why we visited BJP MLA Anupama Jaiswal and wished her a speedy recovery. Politics has its place, but human relationships are equally important. Harmony must prevail."

The visit was appreciated by Jaiswal’s husband, Ashok Jaiswal, who described it as an act of “human sensitivity and democratic courtesy.”

Jaiswal’s husband also told PTI that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had spoken to the injured MLA despite being occupied with election campaigning in West Bengal and had issued necessary instructions for her treatment. Several BJP leaders, including state president Pankaj Chaudhary, Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana and Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, have also been in touch with the family and visited the hospital, he added.

Doctors said Jaiswal is being treated in the ICU under the supervision of Dr Nikhil Puri, Director of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery. She has suffered extensive facial burns, with nearly 75% of her face affected, along with injuries to her ear, forehead and parts of her eyes. Medical experts noted that in such cases, the full extent of burn injuries typically becomes clear within 48 to 72 hours.

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With inputs from PTI