Ghaziabad Police prevented political leaders from visiting Muzaffarnagar district on Monday, where communal clashes since Saturday have left 33 people dead.
As Union Civil Aviation Minister and Rashtriya lok Dal chief Ajit Singh, his son and Mathura MP Jayant Chaudhary, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad and two BJP MPs attempted to enter Ghaziabad, they were detained by the police.
A blame game erupted over the clashes with the Opposition accusing the State Government
of failing to act in time to prevent the violence and the ruling
Samajwadi Party hitting back, saying its rivals were trying to stir up communal trouble.
Earlier, in an overnight crackdown, over 103 people were arrested and 400 people, including BJP legislative party leader Hukum
Singh, party MlAs Suresh Rana, Bhartendu, Sangeet Som and former Congress MP Harendra Malik, were booked, for violating prohibitory orders.
On Monday, police took Ajit Singh to Avas Vikas guest house while his son protested against the police action and staged a dharna at UP gate on National Highway-24. later, unable to go forward, they returned to Delhi.
Ghaziabad Police said they were forced to prevent politicians from visiting Muzaffarnagar as there has been a slight lull in violence after three days of rioting that left 33 dead, and they fear that the fragile peace would be disturbed by the visits of VIPs.
Therefore, the State Government has directed all the officers to act appropriately to restore peace in and around the riot-hit areas and Ghaziabad Police had decided not to allow anybody to proceed to Muzaffarnagar.
Talking to reporters at the guest house Ajit Singh demanded the dismissal of the State Government. The Union Minister said communal harmony in Muzaffarnagar has been disturbed due to the vested interests of the Samajwadi Party.
"The SP hatched a conspiracy to spread communal tension in the State in order to woo Muslim voters. However, the Muslims have understood its trick. Both the Jats and the Muslims have decided to live in complete harmony so peace is returning to the area. The police and the army have not played any role in restoring peace, they are just repressing both the communities."
Superintendent of Police, City, Shiv Shankar Yadav said Ajit Singh was requested not to proceed to Muzaffarnagar and hence taken to the guest house where after a while he agreed to return to Delhi.
Meanwhile, locals declared the violence a Government-sponsored incident to garner votes of the minorities in the coming elections and said the complicity of local leaders of the ruling party was pretty discernible in many riot-affected areas.
They said the administration has been raiding the premises of BJP and Congress leaders for their alleged involvement in violence whereas leaders and supporters of the ruling party are being spared. In an overnight crackdown, more than 103 people were arrested and 400 booked for violating prohibitory orders. They including BJP legislative party leader Hukum Singh, party MlAs Suresh Rana, Bhartendu, Sangeet Som and former Congress MP Harendra Malik. Farmer leaders of Bharatiya Kisan Union Rakesh Tikait and Naresh Tikait have also been named in FIR for instigating rioters.
"The leaders of ruling parties are moving freely in every nook and corner of the city while leaders of Opposition are being prohibited from doing so. Even houses of Opposition leaders of BJP and Congress are being searched and evidences are being collected. Though, the supporters of ruling party are not being touched, they are also taking the help of Bangladeshi people for igniting communal riots here," said Shivam Singhal, a resident of Muzaffarnagar city.
Another local who is involved in providing medical support to the injured, Virender Singh said: "Police is apparently turning a blind eye to activities and mass level mobilizing schemes of workers of ruling parties. The act of administration and police is entirely partial."