After the death of 28 people in the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party government led by Akhilesh Yadav has come under severe scanner for failing to contain the violence.
Even as the Army has called in to restore normalcy in the affected areas, the situation still remains tense. Curfew is still in place in Civil Lines, Kotwali and Nai Mandi areas. Meanwhile, IBN 7 stringer, Rajesh Verma, who was killed while covering the riots, was cremated yesterday.
Political conspiracy has been attributed to the riots. It is believed that both Samajwadi Party and BJP are to be blamed for the mess. Meerut IG Brijbhushan and Saharanpur DIG DC Mishra have been transferred for failing to control the situation.
Senior BJP leader Hukum Singh and three other MLAs have been booked for inciting the communal passion at a Mahapanchayat. A former Congress MP is also named in the FIR. At least 90 people have been arrested so far in connection with the communal riots.
Hukum Singh was reportedly the man behind ‘Bahu Beti Bachao Mahapanchayat’ at Nangla Mandaud village in Muzaffarnagar, which was convened by the Jat community to condemn and seek compensation for the killing of the two youths by the members of minority community over an incident of eve-teasing and molestation. Over one lakh jats had gathered at the meeting. The Samajwadi Party government did not try to stall the meeting. Some people, who attended the Mahapanchayat were reported attacked while returning. That led to the deadly riots.