Citing a sting operation on the Muzaffarnagar riots, the BJP on Wednesday said it has been proved beyond doubt that a senior minister of the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh is responsible for the flare-up of the incident and demanded stern action against the guilty.
“The expose by a news channel about the riots in Muzaffarnagar is serious, sensitive and a matter of concern for democracy. It proves beyond doubt who is behind the riots.
The SP government was completely involved in the events and had a politically motivated, lopsided view of the whole issue,” BJP spokesperson Sudanshu Trivedi said.
ADVERTISEMENT
A news channel had aired a sting operation on Tuesday which showed some police personnel naming Azam Khan, a senior minister in the UP government, as the one who intervened and asked the cops to release seven men involved in the initial violence in Muzaffarnagar. This allegedly led to further violence as people reacted to their release.
“BJP demands that the UPA government takes effective and stern action against the SP government. Effective legal action should also be taken against those involved irrespective of their stature in government,” Mr. Trivedi said.
The main opposition alleged that since no action has been taken by the Centre till now it shows Congress and SP are “hand in glove”.
ADVERTISEMENT
The party also posed pointed questions at Congress, SP and social groups which often target Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of secularism.
“During their visit to the riot-affected area, the Prime Minister and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister met only some sections of the people and it was clearly visible that they have a lopsided view and their visit was politically motivated,” Mr. Trivedi said.
Maintaining that SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had earlier stated that the violence in Muzaffarnagar was a caste conflict and not a communal riot, BJP sought to know what his view was now after the expose.
“We also want to ask the social groups and self-styled champions of secularism who keep harping about the Gujarat riots of 2002 why they are maintaining a shameless silence on the Muzaffarnagar riots. They seem to be motivated by their prejudices,” Mr. Trivedi said.