Mayawati reiterates demand for President's rule in UP

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday reiterated her demand for President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh while accusing the Samajwadi Party Government of not doing enough to heal the wounds of the people of Muzaffarnagar following communal violence.

She asked Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the Centre to impose President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh.

Asserting that mere tokenism is not enough, she said if immediate action is not taken against the Uttar Pradesh Government then the visit by the central leadership will be a mere drama.

“It is okay if the honourable Prime Minister, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhiji and her son Rahul Gandhiji visited Muzaffarnagar after so many days, but mere tokenism is not enough. The honourable Prime Minister and the Central Government must dismiss the Samajwadi Party Government and impose President’s rule in UP. Or else the visit to meet those affected will be a mere drama,” she said.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister charged the Samajwadi Party 6Government of failing to control the violence.

“The UP Government didn’t make efforts to stop the violence and instead it stopped the opposition leaders from going there. When my party talked to the administration there, they said that madam should not come at this time. This all was done to make sure that their flaws do not appear before the public,” she said.

Mayawati further said the Hindus and Muslims have left their homes following the riots, and added that the people of backward castes have been badly affected.

Mayawati also took on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, saying his visit to the riot- hit areas was just an attempt to defend himself, as he knew about the scheduled visit of the central leadership.

The Prime Minister, who visited the clashes-affected areas of Bassi Kalan, Taawli and Barvala earlier in the day, said the perpetrators of Muzaffarnagar violence will be given strict punishment.

Dr Singh also assured the Centre’s full support to the Akhilesh Yadav-led Uttar Pradesh Government in tackling the situation arising out of the Muzaffarnagar violence.

“I, Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi have come here to join you in your pain and sorrow and to make an assessment of the incident. This is a very tragic incident,and whoever is responsible for this, must be duly punished. It is the duty of the government to safeguard life and property so that people can once again settle in their homes,” Dr Singh told the media at Bassi Kalan.

“The Centre will fully support the UP Government. And, in addition, our efforts will be to ensure that strict action is taken against all those responsible for the riot,” he added

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who accompanied the Prime Minister on his visit, interacted with a number of victims and consoled them.

Minister of State for Home RPN Singh and Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi were also present.

The Prime Minister had earlier talked to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and condemned the violence.

Expressing his grief and shock over the loss of innocent lives, Dr Singh had assured Chief Minister Yadav that the Centre will extend all required assistance to the state government in tackling the situation.

The visit of the Congress top brass to Muzaffarnagar comes a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited the riot-hit district and assured people that strict action will be taken against those responsible for the disturbances.

He also said that one family member of those killed would be given a government job.

The Chief Minister has already sanctioned 10 lakh rupees of relief for the families of those killed

Meanwhile, the situation in the affected areas of the state is limping back to normal. The curfew relaxation in the city areas of Muzaffarnagar continued for the seventh day today. While day curfew has been lifted, it will continue during the night.

People are out of their houses performing routine work during the curfew relaxation period. Schools and colleges on Monday reopened after a week.

Scores of senior officials, including Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arun Kumar and others, are constantly camping in trouble-hit Muzaffarnagar.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has constituted a one-member judicial commission to probe the Muzaffarnagar violence, which has claimed over 40 lives.

The commission, which would mainly look into administrative lapses, if any, in controlling the violence, would submit its report to the government within two months.

Violence broke out in the Kawal area of Muzaffarnagar earlier this month when members of a community returning from a panchayat meeting in Naglabadhod, three kilometres from Kawal, clashed with members of another community.