Congress launched a scathing attack on the Akhilesh Yadav government, demanding his resignation for “miserably” failing to control communal riots in Uttar Pradesh. It also equated the Muzaffarnagar riots with the post-Godhra Gujarat riots.
Congress spokesperson PC Chacko termed the Muzaffarnagar riots “one of most deplorable acts of modern India during recent times” and added: “it is almost like revisiting Gujarat riots 2002 again”.
While the UP Congress had initially demanded Yadav’s resignation, the party’s central command didn’t press on the issue. On Friday, Chacko however said, “the state government has no right to continue in the light of these incidents”. He however said, that he is not asking for imposition of President’s rule.
When asked why he compared the Muzaffarnagar riots with the 2002 Gujarat riots, Chacko said, “because both are riots. Whenever communal riots happen, there is a carnage. Is it not?”
External affairs minister Salman Khurshid, meanwhile, held a meeting at his Delhi residence with leaders of different communities in a bid to restore peace in the areas. Khurshid later said, “Our key task is to build confidence among people so that they can return home.”