For an area which has never been affected by communal violence in the past, the continuing impasse in Mewat is a threat to communal harmony in this part of Haryana. With Assembly elections due later this year, the Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Chander Verma has written to the state government seeking permanent deployment of central paramilitary forces in the area.
Following the recent violence the Union Home ministry sent six companies of paramilitary forces including two from the BSF. Today Hindu traders met the Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda who assured them of safety and asked them to call off their bandh.
Residents across the district say that politics has fuelled tensions and “preparations are being made to polarise votes ahead of Assembly elections” due in October. To curb any provocation by politicians, Mr. Verma has decided not to allow any MLA or MP to enter Tauru town. Confirming this to The Hindu, he said, “Yes I have advised the elected representatives to stay away for a few days to allow the situation to settle down.”
Yogendra Yadav of the Aam Aadmi Party (who unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections from Gurgaon, of which Mewat is a part) was the only politician meeting people from both communities to work out a peace formula.
Though the administration has lifted day time curfew traders have refused to open their shops until all illegal arms and ammunition are recovered.
Mr. Yadav said, “It is shameful that instead of reducing tensions, some people are bent on aggravating the situation. It is also sad that instead of being the first to reach out, soothe and assure the people, political leaders are meeting only people from their own communities.”
Though the state government is bearing the costs of those injured in the violence, the traders were upset that the chief minister cancelled a meeting with them after first agreeing to a meeting.
