Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited riot-torn Muzaffarnagar on Sunday, a week after the communal violence rocked the region and claimed 47 lives. The Chief Minister, who faced black flags and slogan shouting by angry villagers for alleged mishandling of the riots, ruled out CBI probe into the violence.
“The State Government has already ordered a judicial probe. A single-member judicial committee headed by Justice (retd) Vishnu Sahai has been asked to submit report within two months. When a judicial probe is on, where is the need for a CBI enquiry,” Akhilesh asked newspersons in Muzaffarnagar after visiting the riot-hit areas.
The Rashtriya lok Dal and several other political parties have been demanding a CBI probe into the Muzaffarnagar violence. The Government has faced flak for the riots that had displaced more than 40,000 people in just five days. As a damage control, the CM went to some riot-hit villages and relief camps.
The political fallout of the violence has begun to emerge. 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 had defeated Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh in the past.
Akhilesh had to face people’s ire 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 a girl.
Waving black flags, villagers shouted wapas jao. They also complained that the Chief Minister 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,” the Chief Minister told newspersons. “We will give Government jobs to those who have lost members of their family. We will also rebuild homes that have been burnt down,” Akhilesh 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, Akhilesh said elder people in the area should lead and hold meetings to revive peace in the area. This visit of Akhilesh seems important as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to visit Muzaffarnagar on Monday. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi may accompany the PM.