Caste clashes in UP, not communal riots: Akhilesh
A recent spurt in communal violence in Uttar Pradesh has brought the ruling Samajwadi Party in the crosshairs again, not long since it faced criticism over a string of rapes and murders. Accused of ineptness and partisanship, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has blamed his rivals of playing politics over religion.
On the Sikh-Muslim clashes in Saharanpur, Yadav said he had assured Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal that all possible assistance would be provided in resolving the crisis. “Anybody in trouble can meet me,” he reportedly told Badal, who telephoned him Saturday.
A three-member delegation headed by Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal will meet Yadav in Lucknow on Monday.
The CM strongly refuted BJP’s charge that Samajwadi Party was pursuing the politics of minority appeasement, and pointed out that his government had recently stopped noted Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad’s procession.
While insisting that his administration will not be unjust to any section of society, he said “secular” Muslims and Hindus will have to come together to confront divisive forces in the state. “Deep-rooted disputes can be resolved only by talks and not violence,” Yadav said.