Prez should intervene to ensure justice to riot affected:CPIML

CPI(ML) today demanded that the President intervene to stop the Uttar Pradesh government from "forcibly" closing relief camps for the riot affected in Muzaffarnagar and ensure adequate relief and rehabilitation measures for all survivors.
"The UP Government seems to have abdicated its duty to ensure relief, rehabilitation and justice for the survivors, and arrest of those accused of communal violence and rape," Revolutionary Youth Association's National General Secretary Ravi Rai said addressing a demonstration here to express solidarity with the riot victims.
The Left party alleged that the UP Government was "bent on forcibly closing" the relief camps, evicting the survivors and preventing their safe return to their villages.

"Relief camps at Loi and Bhora have already faced bulldozers, with the riot survivors given ultimatums to leave within a few hours. Children have died of cold and lack of medicines. Women who have been raped see no prospect of justice, even in cases where FIRs have been filed and perpetrators named, no arrests have followed.
"In such circumstances, it is far from enough for political leaders from the ruling party at the Centre to make visits and score political points. What is needed is effective intervention to correct this travesty of justice and democracy," said Swapan Mukherjee, senior Polit bureau member of CPI(ML).

The protesters demanded immediate arrest and prosecution of all named accused in the riot and rape FIRs. They sought an SC-monitored probe by a special investigation team to investigate the communal violence cases of Muzaffarnagar and asked the President's office to directly monitor these measures.

The protesters also emphasised the need to enact the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparation) Bill in the next session of Parliament.
"In the case of Muzaffarnagar, undoubtedly the communal Sangh forces are responsible for the communal violence. But the UP government's role is criminally reprehensible.
"The central government's role here is crucial, and President's office must intervene to ensure that the Central Government acts to defend the Constitution," emphasised CPI(ML) leader Girija Pathak,

A memorandum was sent to the President of India with these demands.
Representatives of JNUSU and Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association of Delhi and NCR also participated in the dharna.