Rajnath Singh asks Centre to intervene if UP government fails to act against rioters

No action would mean nexus between Congress and SP, says the BJP chief

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh on Wednesday asked the UPA-led government to intervene into the proceedings to nab the perpetrators of the Muzaffarnagar communal riots. He said if the Congress-led Centre fails to take strict action against the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh it would indicate that the two parties are working in a communal nexus.

"The Government of India should intervene and must take strict action against the Uttar Pradesh Government. There is no point in this government continuing" Singh said.

"If the Congress-led UPA government does not take strict action against the Samajwadi Party-led UP government, then it will be accepted that there is a nexus between the two parties in a way in which they operate to spread communal feelings through society in order to divide them- policy similar to the British, who operated the divide and rule policy ," Singh said.

Referring to the claims made by a sting operation by a news channel, the BJP President demanded President's Rule in Uttar Pradesh, and said that there could not be a matter more worrying than the state government being involved in endorsing communal riots.

"A sting operation by a news channel shows that the Uttar Pradesh Government is entirely responsible for the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar, which claimed the lives of several people. I strongly believe that there cannot be a more grave wrongdoing by any state government," he said.

"Whether it is the Congress or the Samajwadi Party-they are only interested in staying in power. That is why I appeal to the Congress-led UPA government and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that we should move forward on the basis of the facts that have come forward in the sting operation and take strict action against the Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government," he added.

Meanwhile, the prime accused in the sting operation, SP leader Azam Khan denied the allegations levelled against him earlier in the day, and said that the channel concerned must investigate to determine if he was guilty.

I have nothing to do with this. I live a clean and truthful life. Neither am I worried nor do I need to give anybody an explanation. In fact, the channel that has tried to ruin my entire life, I suggest to them that they themselves investigate the claims made by them," Khan said.

"We are on the side of justice and action. I cannot even think of letting a perpetrator roam free. This is not in my character. I would rather die than lead the life they are accusing me of," he said.

The Uttar Pradesh Minister challenged the news channel to establish that he had communicated to any police officer during the days of the riots.

"There are several districts involved and there will be telephone records present during those days. Now, if someone has called up as (pretending to be) me, I am not responsible for it. But, if I have done it, I am willing to face the harshest punishment," he added.

On Tuesday, a news channel aired a sting operation on the Muzaffarnagar communal riots, which alleged that Azam Khan had instructed police officials to take delayed action in curbing the communal violence in the area.

Reports suggest that the two district police officers in the footage of the sting operations-Budhana inspector Rishipa and an Inspector of Fhuwana police station-were transferred on Tuesday evening after Headlines Today broke their 'Operation Riot For Votes'.

According to media reports, the police, however, claim that the transfers were 'routine'.

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 on August 27, when members of a community returning from a panchayat meeting in Naglabadhod, three kilometres from Kawal, clashed with members of another community.