File pic: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav
The Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh has asked a court to cancel bail granted to politicians accused of inciting riots in Muzaffarnagar, which killed nearly 60 and left thousands displaced last September.
BSP MP Kadir Rana, who represents Muzaffarnagar in the Lok Sabha, his party legislator Noor Salim Rana and BJP legislator Bhartendra Singh are among 50 riot-accused men who should be arrested and sent to jail, the UP government has told the Allahabad High Court.
The state government has moved against them just two days before Muzaffarnagar and another riot-affected district, Shamli, go to polls for the national election. The Supreme Court had asked the state to ensure that all riot-accused are arrested.
These politicians have been campaigning in Muzaffarnagar and have been accused of making divisive speeches to polarize voters.
Kadir Rana said in a recent speech, "Everywhere the enemy is watching...there is ammunition and weapons to target us...Muslims have been treated worse than they were in partition... I want to say that this election is for the honour of Muslims.. .and I see nothing wrong in asking for votes in the name of my religion. Muslims have made me who I am."
Two more BJP leaders, Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana, were also among the accused but it is not clear whether the state government has included their names, since the court had cleared them of charges under the National Security Act.
The Samajwadi Party, which has ruled UP since 2012, has been accused of mishandling the aftermath of the riots and failing to protect families forced to live in relief camps for months.