Opposition demands dismissal of UP government over Supreme Court rap

Opposition parties Wednesday demanded the dismissal of the Uttar Pradesh government citing the stinging remarks of the Supreme Court on the state government's role in the Muzaffarnagar riots.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Laxmikant Bajpayi said the Samajwadi Party (SP) government had lost its credibility after the court rap.

Bajpayi also led a seven-member party delegation which met Governor B.L. Joshi and demanded the state government put in its papers.

Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chowdhary also called for removal of the state government, saying morality now demanded Akhilesh quit.

"We have always been alleging a tacit understanding between the SP and the BJP in stoking communal fire in western UP, especially Muzaffarnagar. The Supreme Court's ruling has only given credence to our charges," he added.

The apex court had earlier in the day said it found the role of the state government careless during the initial phase of the September 2013 riots.

The riots left 63 dead and thousands homeless.

The court, however, dismissed demands of a CBI probe into the riots.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) charged the state government of not only being complicit in the riots but also being indifferent to the plight of the riot survivors.

"This has bared the real face of the Samajwadi Party government and it should be dismissed now," said Naseemuddin Siddiqui of the BSP.

Congress leader and spokesman Akhilesh Singh said the court observation was a big setback to the state government.

State PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, however, refused to be drawn into the developments. He said the court verdict was of 52 pages and the party would only react after going through it.