Accusing the ruling Samajwadi Party and the Bhartiya Janata Party of being hand-in-glove in giving a communal colour to the Muzaffarnagar and Shamli clashes for political gains in Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Monday said President’s rule must be imposed in the State.
As the death toll mounted to 31, Ms. Mayawati squarely blamed the Akhilesh Yadav government for failing to tackle the situation, which blew up after a criminal incident on August 27. She alleged that the deteriorating law and order situation under the SP regime had created a “jungle raj” in the State.
The former U.P. Chief Minster charged that the issue had simmered for 10 days before the State woke up to the enormity of the situation which resulted in loss of life and property.
Responding to a question, Ms. Mayawati said the SP was ganging up with the Bharatiya Janata Party in a bid to cover up its incompetence and “[polarise] votes in the run-up to the elections.”
She alleged that the SP and the BJP have long been conspiring to spoil the communal atmosphere in the country as was obvious from the long “cordial” meeting that SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had with Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders on the 84-kosi yatra.
“People saw through their game-plan for which members of both the communities must be congratulated.’’