UP CM should squarely be held responsible for Muzaffarnagar riots: BSP

Commenting on the Justice Vishnu Sahai Commission report on the Muzaffarnagar riots that was submitted to Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Wednesday, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Sunday said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should squarely be held responsible for this heinous crime.

"I think the responsibility is of that of the one who is heading the government and that is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav is the Chief Minister, so he should be squarely held responsible for this heinous crime and for not having been able to handle this problem carefully," said BSP leader Sudhindra Bhadoria.

"As far as the Justice Vishnu Sahai Commission report on the Muzaffarnagar riots is considered, it is a well-known fact that this was the most heinous crime in the post-independent India, where over one lakh people were rendered homeless, dozens of people lost their lives, many-many women were raped and children killed," said Bhadoria.

"Number two, there are some people holding positions of responsibility in the government, and that is the constitutional responsibility, and therefore responsibilities should be fixed as far as they are concerned," he added.

The BSP leader further said the people of Uttar Pradesh will in the coming days decide themselves as to who is responsible and who is not, adding those who are responsible will not be able to go scot-free.

The Uttar Pradesh Government had set up a one-man inquiry commission under Justice (Retired) Vishnu Sahai to look into administrative lapses in controlling the violence and role played by media as well as politicians in flaring up the riots.

The commission submitted the 775-page report comprising six volumes to the Governor on Wednesday.