Rahul Gandhi visits Muzaffarnagar relief camps: 10 latest developments
Here are the 10 latest developments:
- "I came here in the morning to see the situation myself. I met all people across all communities who are affected by the riots. Wherever I went, people spoke of communal harmony," Mr Gandhi said while addressing a press conference in the evening.
- "The conditions in the camps are terrible, children are dying. There is no animosity with the Samajwadi Party government, but Akhilesh Yadav should do more," he added.
- Mr Gandhi said that the UP government needs to do two things - focus on the conditions at the relief camps and work on mediation between different communities.
- During his visit to the relief camps, the Congress No 2 urged the riot victims to return home, saying "those engineering communal riots" want them to remain at the camps as "such a situation benefits them."
- While on his way from the Shamli relief camp to Muzaffarnagar district, some of the protesters showed black flags to Mr Gandhi's convoy; some of them even laid down in front of his car.
- Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said his government too wants that these victims should go home and welcomes suggestions from Congress and Mr Rahul Gandhi.
- The young Chief Minister however added that his party does not believe in politics during tragedy.
- Mr Gandhi's visit to Muzaffarnagar coincided with a Jat delegation calling on Congress president Sonia Gandhi to thank her for UPA's decision to recommended reservation for jats.
- Communal riots tore through the western Uttar Pradesh town of Muzaffarnagar in September, leaving nearly 60 people dead and close to 40,000 homeless.
- The violence was triggered when a young Muslim man was killed allegedly by Hindus for reportedly sexually harassing a woman. As the riots spread, thousands of people fled their homes and crowded relief camps. Nearly 4000 of them have refused to return home fearing more violence.
