SP regrets riots, vows to punish guilty

Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party Thursday expressed "deep regrets" over the Muzaffarnagar clashes which left 38 dead and vowed to "firmly deal with" the guilty.

The statements came even as party colleagues for the first time voiced anger vis-a-vis senior leader Mohammed Azam Khan for skipping the two-day national executive meeting that ended here Thursday.

Party chief Mualayam Singh appeared uncomfortable answering questions over the three days of Muzaffarnagar violence that has turned some key Muslim leaders in the state against the Samajwadi Party.

But he promised that justice would be done for the victims.

"In Gujarat justice was not done," he said, referring to the communal violence of 2002. "The guilty (in Muzaffarnagar) will be firmly dealt with in an exemplary manner to deter troublemakers and others."

He said the Uttar Pradesh government, run by his son Akhilesh Yadav, would ensure that all victims would be duly compensated.

Speaking to IANS, party secretary C.P. Rai said the Samajwadi leadership "is deeply moved and regrets the tragic incidents in Muzaffarnagar.

"Our government will do everything to help the victims and bring them back to (the) mainstream."

The absence of senior leader Azam Khan from the Agra conclave turned a section of the Samajwadi Party against the party's best known Muslim face, with one telling him that he was free to leave the party.

Lashing out at Khan, general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said he was better advised to understand the 'garima' (responsibility) of his position or quit.

Ram Gopal Yadav, known for his overpowering influence on Mulayam Singh, said no one was bigger than the party.

"People vote for Mulayam Singh and not for anyone. It is irrelevant for us if people do not come for important meetings," he added, and underlined that the party was not open to any form of 'hanak' (muscle flexing).

Another party general secretary, Naresh Agarwal, said Khan should not be swayed by sentiments and must not breach party discipline.

A Samajwadi Party legislator from Maharashtra, Abu Azmi, had earlier said that Khan was not a "big leader" of the Muslim community.

But Mulayam Singh tried to play down the absence of Khan.

"Azam Khan can never be angry with us. We are trying to ensure there is no controversy. Possibly he may have had some pressing work," he said.

Khan, who enjoys the number two position in the Akhilesh Yadav government, has been at cross purposes vis-a-vis the state government and has embarrassed his party on several occasions.

The Samajwadi Party meeting ended after adopting a political resolution spelling out its strategy for the next Lok Sabha election.