Congress wants UP government to give answers on delayed action in Muzaffarnagar

Congress Party leader Jagdambika Pal on Tuesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to take action against the perpetrators of violence in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar.

Jagadambika Pal alleged , "most certainly, they are roaming free on the streets.....In spite of FIRs being launched against some party politicians, there has still been no questioning."

"The state government must give an answer to this because, first, there has been no action taken against the perpetrators and, second, to why there has still been no action taken after such a big riot," he added.

Pal also criticized the opposition for being critical on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress Party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for their visit to the riot-hit area.

"Look, I understand that after a large-scale riot like this one, there is a feeling of insecurity in the people there because victims are still living outside their homes. ....the central government has to go and assess and advise the state government. That is exactly what the Prime Minister did," Pal said.

"Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi went there to ensure the victims were assured of security and normalcy after the riots," he added.

On Monday evening, ten days after it was imposed, the administration lifted the curfew in the area, saying that the situation was again "peaceful."

Earlier, on Monday Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi visited the area to survey the situation and also meet victims of the riots.

The Prime Minister had earlier talked to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and condemned the violence.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has constituted a one-member judicial commission to probe the Muzaffarnagar violence, which has claimed over 40 lives.

The commission, which would mainly look into administrative lapses, if any, in controlling the violence, would submit its report to the government within two months.

Violence broke out in the Kawal area of Muzaffarnagar earlier this month when members of a community returning from a panchayat meeting in Naglabadhod, three kilometres from Kawal, clashed with members of another community.