Rahul makes unannounced visit to Muzaffarnagar

Rahul Gandhi today made an unannounced visit to the riot-hit areas of Muzaffarnagar district and relief camps to meet the affected people from both the Muslim and Hindu communities.

The visit by the Congress Vice President in an attempt to broker peace between the two communities was marred by protests from some members believed to be from the Muslim community when he was returning from the Shamli relief camp.

This is the second visit by Rahul to Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh after it was hit by riots in August-September in which 62 people were killed.

Gandhi during his visit to the relief camps and homes of the victims who were killed in the communal clashes asked those living in the temporary shelter to return home.

Gandhi said that everyone he spoke to talked of brotherhood and that there was no communal divide.

While on his way from the Shamli relief camp to Muzaffarnagar district, Gandhi was shown black flags by protestors believed to be belonging to the Muslim community who were reportedly unhappy that nothing much is being done for their relief.

Congress was quick to allege that the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh had stage-managed the protests.

"The protests were stage-managed by SP whose members have a vested interest in the continuance of relief camps and do not want the situation to normalise as Congress is reaching out to both communities to normalise the situation," Shamli district president of Congress Ayub Jung said.

Gandhi later visited the home of Rajvir, a Jat youth killed in the riots, in Kanked area. Three Hindus had lost their lives during the initial clashes which started here over the eve-teasing of a Hindu girl.

He also held a chaupal (gathering of locals) here and asked the people what they feel should be done.

Some of the locals complained to Gandhi that Azam Khan, a senior minister in the SP government, had not allowed the police to take prompt action when the riots broke out.

"Samajwadi Party showed a slant towards one community as it wanted to be the sole claimant of Muslim votes and all this was done at its behest," the locals told Gandhi.

The Congress leader told the people of the Jat dominated area that their views are similar to that of the Muslims victims living in relief camps.

"They were also saying there is no communal divide between the two communities and this was engineered for politics. While some politicians will be gaining from this, you and your agriculture will suffer," Gandhi said.