UP Minister Ashish Patel Claims Life Threat From STF Amid Controversy Over Alleged Irregularities in Technical Education Department

Lucknow, January 1, 2025 – A fresh political controversy has emerged in Uttar Pradesh with Cabinet Minister Ashish Patel accusing the state’s Special Task Force (STF) of threatening his life. The allegations come amidst claims of irregularities in the appointments of department heads within the Technical Education Department.

MLA Pallavi Patel of Sirathu and a factional leader in the Apna Dal (Kameravadi) recently stirred up a furore concerning the appointment procedures in the ministry. She alleged officials were bypassing the current rules of service that are in existence to accommodate several appointments by operating under older outdated rules. It is a complete scam, as Patel called this process, to which she demanded action by stalling the whole assembly.

However, amidst these claims, Uttar Pradesh Minister of Technical Education Ashish Patel strongly refuted the allegations of any wrongdoings and instead hinted at a more massive conspiracy plot meant to sabotage his political career. Ashish Patel made a sensational claim in social media on Wednesday when he alleged that his life was under threat from the STF, a state police unit responsible for handling cases that are high-profile. He warned that if he were to be harmed during his ongoing struggle for “social justice,” the STF would be entirely liable.

Ashish Patel Claims Life Threat From STF

Ashish Patel promptly responded to the charges by pointing out that the process of his department was totally transparent. He further replied that the promotions in question were recommended by M. Devaraj himself, one of the most respected IAS officers from Uttar Pradesh, when he was principal secretary of the Technical Education Department. Patel replied that these promotions were done at the highest levels of the government. He asserted that they were approved in the Chief Minister’s Office itself.

In a lengthy post on social media, Patel wrote, “Despite the fact that these departmental promotions were thoroughly vetted by one of Uttar Pradesh’s most honest officials and approved at the highest echelons, the continuous media trial and political smear campaign against me are simply unacceptable.”

The minister has also offered a probe into himself and his wife, Union Minister Anupriya Patel’s assets, saying that he is amenable to being probed about all his ministerial activities with a CBI inquiry. He even offered himself for an investigation into the properties that they accumulated after their political careers, implying that he did not have a single thing wrong with his activity.

Ashish Patel further claimed that the controversy was part of an attempt to suppress the voice of social justice, particularly concerning promotions that benefited OBCs (Other Backward Classes) and marginalized groups. “The promotions were aimed at giving these communities, whose rights have been neglected for years, the opportunities they deserve,” he said, adding that the caste-wise promotion list attached to his post would provide further insight into the fairness of the process.

The minister’s statements did not end there. He pointed out the selective targeting of officials, questioning why only he, as the minister, was being blamed. He argued that if there were any issues with the promotion process, the responsibility should be shared by other key officials involved, including the Principal Secretary and the Chief Minister’s Office.

In his post, Ashish Patel issued a stern warning stating that “If anything happens to me during this fight for social justice, the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force will be solely responsible.” Comments from the view of Patel have raised questions regarding credibility attached with the present-day investigation and the STF’s involvement in the affair.

Ashish Patel was contacted by PTI for clarification on his comments, where he repeated that his claims were based on reality and said that the allegations against him were politically motivated. He maintained that the process of promotion was discussed and approved at the highest levels, so that due process was followed at every level.

As it is now, it can’t be said whether an official probe will finally be initiated into the affair or if the political charges escalate further. The intervention of the STF and the allegations of a conspiracy against the minister added another layer to an already hot politics in Uttar Pradesh.