B laming Opposition parties for riots in Muzaffarnagar that took 49 lives, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that this violence was a ‘political conspiracy’ aimed to divide the society on religious lines.
Replying to a debate on the Muzaffarnagar riots in the UP Assembly, Yadav said his Government would not spare anyone found guilty in perpetrating the crime. “All political parties want peace in the State and the Government too wants it. It was not a riot but a political conspiracy to divide the two religious communities for their own vested interest,” he said.
Narrating recent controversy over Mahakaleshwar Temple in Jhansi, the CM said that Hindu and Muslims were staying inside the temple for past several decades but suddenly the BJP raised the issue and its MP Yogi Adityanath launched an agitation there to remove the Muslims. “Such act of the BJP is condemnable and they are trying to divide the society on the name of Hindu and Muslims,” he said.
Yadav also alleged that uploading controversial videos and photographs on YouTube and circulation of MMS and SMS were created tension in the society. He also announced that the Government was investigating the role of the officials, whose laxity led to the violence.
“All such officials would be taken to task,” he said.
Even Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan said no Government wants violence in its regime because strife destroys human relations. “law will take its course in dealing with the people who are responsible for riots but there cannot be any law for wolves. We are human being and should follow the law of the land,” Azam Khan said.
The 30 minute speech of Azam Khan was full of rhetoric but lacked substance. He dwelled on human values and the negative effects violence has on human relations but refused to speak on the Government strategy to stop riots in future or what action the Government has taken against the rioters. He got emotional on speaking about the killings of people -- both Muslim and Hindus -- in Muzaffarnagar, but was silent on the compensation the Government would extend to the families who lost their loved ones in the riot.
“Who is killed in these riotsIJ It is the poor. Not a single rich or powerful has been killed in these riots. Muslims are in minority in western Uttar Pradesh and the way majority treated them does not bring laurels to Hindus residing in that part of the State,” he said. Earlier, the Opposition led by BJP members tore into the Government claims of “all is well” in Muzaffarnagar and said the riots were State sponsored. They also demanded increase in compensation for the family members of those killed in riot and action against the culprits.
The debate was initiated by leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya who questioned as why Uttar Pradesh becomes a battle field when the Samajwadi Party comes to power. He demanded resignation of the Chief Minister for his failure to restore peace in Mzaffarnagar.
BJP legislature leader Hukum Singh, against whom an FIR has been lodged for inciting communal hatred, said that if the Government wanted the situation could have been brought under control. “There were a series of meetings and mahapanchayats and district administration did not take action. It waited for the situation to go out of hands,” he said.
Pramod Tiwari (Congress) said that there was an attempt to make UP a second Gujarat and the State Government should not allow this to happen. Uma Bharti (BJP) who attended the House for the first time said parties should detest from doing politics on dead bodies. Hitting out at the Samajwadi Party Government, she said it is probably the first Government that has lost the faith of people in such a short span of time.
“The guilty should be punished but no action should be taken against the innocent,” she said. Members from the ruling party also spoke on the occasion.