Lucknow:
When Akhilesh Yadav took charge as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh six months ago, he promised to act tough against communal forces in the state. In these six months, the state saw six major riots. In Bareilly district, some localities were under curfew for days. In Ghaziabad, the most recent, six people died in police firing after a mob turned violent hearing rumours about a copy of the Quran being desecrated.
So far, 14 people have died in the violence across the state. Many more have been injured and property destroyed by angry mobs.
Most of the riots have taken place in the last three and a half months. In June, violence broke out in Kosi Kalan near Mathura over a place of worship. Four people died and several vehicles were destroyed. In Partapgarh, houses of Muslims were burnt down after a Dalit girl was raped and murdered. Local villagers began rioting to protest police inaction. Bareilly district saw rioting twice in two months, both times over communal issues and curfew that extended for over a month. And the latest was in capital Lucknow and Allahabad, this time protests against the "atrocities" against Muslims in Assam and Myanmar.
The opposition BJP says that there has been very little action against rioters because of the SP's policy of 'minority appeasement'. So far, Mr Yadav has suspended some police officers, sparking criticism that he is shifting blame to the police.
Former Chief Minister Mayawati, his key political rival in the state, claims situation in the state was much better during her tenure. She says, "It has become difficult for people to step out after evening."
But opposition parties have not been able to put much pressure on Akhilesh government so far for political equation at the Centre, where Mr Yadav's party holds key. Akhilesh's father and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has been talking about a possible third front at the Centre, which many feel is the reason behind lack of political criticism against the state government.
Analysts say the Congress seems silent because of political compulsions after Mamata Banerjee's threat of withdrawing support to the UPA looms large. The party has no choice but to depend on SP after it came to the rescue of the UPA during the presidential elections. Since Mr Yadav rejected FDI in retail in the state, the BJP too seems to be taking the opportunity to further desert Congress of its allies on key reforms issues. BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar rejected such claims by saying "we have not been silent. UP and Mumbai show a new trend. The state government has been silent."