The celebration at Saifai mahotsav could have become meaningful and noteworthy if it was organised to help the people in need either in Muzaffarnagar or elsewhere in the state in order to serve the real purpose. It was done so keeping in mind to have some kind of understanding with these stars for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls but the party has failed to read the changing political atmosphere. Bollywood actors can attract crowds but gone are the days when people used to vote on their call to support any political party.
What is more surprising that Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, Minister for Mines and Minerals during an interaction in Jaluan, on 10 January, said that the Muzaffarnagar riot issue was not as big and serious as it has been portrayed by the media. His statement has come when we all know what happened during Muzaffarnagar riots. More than 60 persons were killed and almost 50,000 had to take shelter in camps, in which about 35 children died in the relief camps struggling against all odds. Now, one can ask the minister as to what should be the figure of the killed and affected that would help him determine it as a big issue and the government to consider it seriously. Recently, when Rajdeep Sardesai, IBN18 Editor-in-Chief, asked Mulayam Singh Yadav’s brother and UP Minister Shivpal Yadav about the suffering of Muzaffarnagar riots victims on India at 9 news programme, he said ‘there are many conspirators like you and we will take action against the conspirators like you’ and then walked out of the news programme.
The National Human Rights Commission is likely to discuss with the state government during a camp sitting in Lucknow between January 15 and 17 about the plight of the riot victims and the compensation given to them. Earlier, two teams were sent by the Commission which after taking stock of the situation in relief camps submitted their reports. The findings of this report will be discussed with senior Government officials during the meet which begins from 17 January. Meanwhile, in yet another development the National Commission for Minorities has issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government to reply on the statement made by the party chief Mulayam Singh that those living in relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli are conspirators and were planted by the Congress and the BJP.
Political leaders across party line have criticised the celebration at a time when Muzaffarnagar riots victims were suffering. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Satish Chandra Mishra said that the public money has been wasted during the Saifai mahotsav when people in Muzaffarnagar were dying from severe cold in relief camps. Mishra also said that if the same amount would have used for Muzaffarnagar relief then possibly children wouldn’t have died and people wouldn’t have suffered in the manner they are subjected to.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, while trying to downplay the criticism, has rubbished the claim of Rs 300 crore spent during the festivals and said that only 7 to 8 crore was spent and the government share was 1 crore and the rest of amount came from contributions. According to the findings of an RTI, there have been 46 air trips made by the chief minister and 51 by Shivpal Singh Yadav to Saifai for this event. CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta, in his reaction, has said that it is most unfortunate to organise such festivals when people are suffering in a nearby place.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said the way Uttar Pradesh government has handled the things shows that the sensitivity is surely missing. Even BJP leader Balbir Punj said that what has happened in Saifai is a cruel joke with the people and the victims of Muzaffarnagar. Sanjay Singh, spokesman of AAP, while talking to reporters, in Lucknow, on 7 January, said that both the Samajwadi Party and the BJP believe that they will gain from the communally charged atmosphere.
However, in the days ahead, the changing political scenario will compel the parties to think of the people all the time and even during celebrations. Each and every action of political parties will be judged as to how it is going to help the people or serve people and how public money has been utilised and how it can be used meaningfully.