New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government on the Muzaffarnagar communal clashes, in which 38 people have been killed since Saturday. This, on a day Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, under attack from all quarters including his own party colleagues, promised strict action against those responsible for the flare-up.
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The Supreme court has asked the UP and Central government to take immediate steps to restore peace and help the injured and others affected by the clashes with food, medicine and shelter.
The Centre and UP have been asked to respond by Monday on relief and rehabilitation for those displaced or stranded after the violence. The court responded to a petition by nine residents of Muzaffarnagar.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has blamed political parties for inciting communal passions and giving a religious colour to a local incident. He also denied any delayed action.
The clashes began on Saturday, after a farmers' gathering or mahapanchayat, called to demand justice for two Jat brothers who were lynched in village Kawal on August 27, after they killed a Muslim man for stalking their sister.
Farmers returning from the gathering were attacked and killed, which spiraled into rioting in several villages.
Political leaders from BJP, BSP and Congress have been booked for making incendiary speeches at the Mahapanchayat, which, the police said, provoked religious enmity.
Over 10,000 people have reportedly been arrested to check the violence, which left thousands displaced and scurrying for shelter with their families to other villages.
Political parties have targeted the ruling Samajwadi party for failing to control the violence, and not acting sooner to prevent it despite clear warnings.
The Chief Minister's father Mulayam Singh Yadav, today rejected comparisons to Narendra Modi , saying: "There was no justice in Gujarat (after 2002 riots) but justice will be done in Uttar Pradesh."
The Samajwadi Party chief also downplayed a rift within the party, with its seniormost Muslim leader Azam Khan, a state minister, skipping a party meet, reportedly in protest against the government's failure to check the violence.
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