The Muzaffarnagar riots, which started on 27 August, claimed about 50 innocent lives, rendered about 50,000 others homeless making them refugees in their home districts, and destroyed valuable properties worth yet-to-be-ascertained. Rape of women and brutal killing of children have also been reported. These riots have added a new chapter to the blood-soaked history of post-Independence India, and once again brought to light the dirty politics of riots a section of our politicians loves to play. Yes, in this land of ‘ahimsa’ there are politicians who have built their entire political edifice on the premise of hate and violence in their vain pursuit of turning this plural country into a ‘Hindu Rashtra’, much against the spirit of the Constitution.
News reports and videos have confirmed that there were politicians igniting the fire of hate and violence. While Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas were raging with communal fire, the Uttar Pradesh administration allowed a 20,000-strong meeting in the region where several politicians allegedly made provocative speeches. This was tragically inept on the part of the Akhilesh government. Besides, the government’s inaction in the face of the communal flare-up is unfortunate. Though Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has promised judicial enquiry into the riots and booking of the rioters under National Security Act, he was greeted with black flags and slogans wherever he went on 15 September. Keeping in view this inaction and inertia as well as repeated eruption of riots in the various parts of the State in quick succession during the last one year, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, Rashtriya Lok Dal and other organisations and parties have demanded dismissal of the Akhilesh government and imposition of President’s Rule in the State.
It is also pertinent to note that the frequency of communal violence in the State of Uttar Pradesh has escalated since Amit Shah, former BJP Minister of Gujarat, who is out on bail for charges of several encounters, was appointed to lead the campaign of the party in UP. Social scientists also view this upsurge in communal flare-up in UP as BJP’s effort to ‘prove’ that such communal riots can erupt anywhere, and not only in Gujarat, the Chief Minister of which is now named the party’s Prime Minister material.
It is high time the Union Government adopted the Communal Violence Bill to ensure a riot-free, peaceful India where people belonging to every faith, caste and colour can walk with their heads held high. It is indeed the duty of the Government to protect the life and properties of citizens; and the Government must fulfil this duty. Otherwise, the peace- and justice-loving people in the country should be ready to defeat the peddlers of hate and violence in the upcoming Assembly and General Elections.