Father of Ankit Saxena, a Delhi-based photographer who was brutally murdered in February last year by his Muslim girlfriend’s family who did not approve of the inter-religious love affair, has expressed his disappointment at Delhi government for not keeping up the promises.

Y Saxena: Our only breadwinner is gone. I’ve suffered a heart attack&my wife has undergo 3 operations, there are expenses. Neighbours help us a little. Delhi CM had said we’ll get Rs 5 Lakh compensation, later he said he’ll help us more but he hasn’t reverted. I’m broken. (11.06) pic.twitter.com/wLMF3ovwtX — ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2019

Speaking to news agency ANI, Ankit’s father said that they have not received any of the promised compensation from Delhi government. Adding how the Delhi CM has let him down, he wondered if the rift between the two communities would have helped him get early compensation. He adds that they were told they would get legal and financial aid, but that didn’t happen. At first, the Delhi government had promised a compensation of Rs 5 lakh. Later, the Delhi CM had promised to increase the compensation but Arvind Kejriwal hasn’t reverted yet. “I am broken,” he said.

Yashpal Saxena added that despite sending several reminders to the Delhi government, Kejriwal government has not fulfilled its promise.

“Am I not being compensated because I did not allow the incident to become communal? I wanted love and harmony to prevail between the two communities. Am I being punished for it? Would the rift between the two communities have resulted in early compensation?” he asks.

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Ankit Saxena, a Delhi based photographer was brutally murdered by the family of his Muslim girlfriend as they disapproved their inter-religious love affair. Subsequently, the girl’s mother, maternal uncle and minor brother have been arrested for the brutal crime.

The Delhi police, in the charge sheet filed in the case, also stated that the murder was premeditated. As reported, it was revealed that the girl’s family was vehemently against their daughter being in love with a Hindu boy and proceeded to kill him in a pre-planned manner by engineering a road rage incident. Ground reports too have highlighted the religious bigotry of the girl’s family with the mother being a staunch Muslim who had huge objections about inter-faith marriages.

A case was registered under sections 302 (murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Akbar Ali, the father of Ankit’s girlfriend, mother Shahnaaz, a juvenile younger brother and uncle Mohammad Salim.

The incident predictably shocked the nation, with tributes and condolences flooding for Ankit and his family. The condolence ceremony also involved a prayer meeting which was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. However, when the family demanded compensation for the loss of the sole breadwinner of their house, Kejriwal reportedly left the prayer meet mid-way.

Watch Scene 1 – Kejriwal to family of #AnkitSaxena Ji Scene 2 – Kejriwal to families of MM Khan Ji & Tanzeem Ahmed Ji ये फर्क क्यों??? इसे देखने के बाद आज रात आप सो नहीं पाएंगे। ये इस देश मे मजहब की राजनीति का सबसे गंदा चेहरा हैं। pic.twitter.com/DL1Vpb5rG6 — Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) February 12, 2018

Incidentally as pointed out by Mishra in his video, Kejriwal in the past had announced compensation worth Rs 1 crore each to the family members of deceased NIA officer Tanzil Ahmed and NDMC legal adviser MM Khan, hence it is not a new thing for him. This raises the question as to why is the Delhi CM not willing to keep his promise to Ankit Saxena’s family.

Ankit Saxena’s father, Yashpal Saxena had become the face of communal harmony after he appealed to everyone not to communalise his son’s murder by the hands of his Muslim girlfriend’s family who disapproved of their inter-religious relationship. He had even organised an inter-faith iftar party last year during Ramzan which was attended by various ‘social activists’. However, a year and a half later, he still awaits justice.