Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi visited riot-torn Muzaffarnagar on Monday.
At their first stop, a relief camp, hundreds of villagers begged for help as the Rahul Gandhi reached out to them.
Sonia Gandhi even crossed the security barricade to speak to the women in the camps.
'We will ensure the safety of those affected by the riots and promise toughest action against the rioters,' the PM said.
Villagers handed over letters to the leaders. One - a man - told them, 'When VIPs visit, they arrive surrounded by security. Why didn't the police arrive to help us when we needed it?'
The PM said the Congress leaders wanted to share the sorrow and pain of the area.
'I saw my wife and child butchered in front of me,' wept Jameel to the PM at a relief camp in Bassi Kalan.
Many of the families said they wanted to return to their villages to get their belongings, and asked the PM for help.
