Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited riot-torn on Sunday, a week after the communal violence started, amid protest from villagers and ruled out CBI probe into the pogrom that killed 47 people saying judicial enquiry is on into the riots.
“The State Government has already ordered judicial probe into the matter and a single member judicial committee headed by Retd Justice Vishnu Sahai has been asked to submit report with two months. When judicial probe is on where is the need of CBI enquiry,” Yadav told reporters in Muzaffarnagar after visiting the riot-hit areas.
Rashtriya lok Dal and several other political parties are demanding a CBI probe into the Muzaffarnagar violence in which 48 people lost their lives so far.
The Government has faced flaks for the riots that has displaced more than 40,000 people in just five days. As a damage control Chief Minister went to some riot-hit villages and relief camps where people were given shelter.
The political fallout of the violence has begun to show. Sompal Shastri, former union minister and Samajwadi Party candidate from Baghpat, has refused to contest the 2014 elections, saying he has lost the moral right to do so.
Shastri has defeated Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh in the past.Yadav had to face the ire of people when he went to Kawwal, the worst-hit Muslim-dominated village. He also met Salim, father of Shahnawaz, who was killed on August 27 for allegedly harassing women and the incident that proved spark for this riot.
Waving black flags, villagers shouted Vapis jao. They also complained that CM met some outsiders and did not meet the victims.“I went to both the villages and met the families of Shahnawaz as well as Sachin and Gaurav. There is grief and we understand that... I appeal for calm,” Chief Minister told reporters.
“We will give government jobs to those who have lost members of their family. We will also rebuild homes that have been burnt down,” Yadav promised.
‘’My government is committed to punish the guilty and they would not be spared at any cost,’’ he said while admitting that the lapse on part of the district officials was also a reason behind the violence.
Appealing to the people to maintain peace and brotherhood, Yadav said elder people in the area should lead and hold meetings to revive peace in the area.This visit of Akhilesh Yadav also seems important as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is also expected to visit Muzaffarnagar on Monday. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi may also accompany him.