Muzaffarnagar:
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited Muzaffarnagar today, a week after the communal violence started there which has claimed at least 48 lives and displaced more than 40,000 people. His government has faced considerable flak over a series of riots in the state during his 18-month tenure so far.
He addressed the media after the visit. Here are the highlights:
- Those who used to live together, farm together, participated in each other's events. We have to bring back those days
- We are giving Rs 10 lakhs to the family of the dead
- One member if the family will get a govt job
- If police arrangement is adequate they can return home also
- The government will repair their homes
- We will also act on the report of the single-judge commission that is investigating the matter
- There should be no politics in these matters; situation got out of hand because of politicization
- Please give me the name of the official who told you he wasn't empowered by the government
- The government decided to deploy the Army and also called in central forces immediately
- An inquiry is on.
- Samajwadi Party has always fought against communal forces
- We will get a report after September 27 and we will take action against anyone found guilty irrespective of stature
- Do not compare this incident to other places (Godhra)
- Commission will also inquire why did the government officials not have prior intelligence
- On CBI inquiry: We have an inquiry commission and we'll act after we get the report
- Gun licences have been cancelled in a few areas and if such cartridges have been recovered, it is a matter of concern
- I have missed some villages like Phaguna where there have been incidents due to paucity of time.
- I met people of these affected villages at the camps
- We have to be vigilant that people are not able to disturb communal harmony
- We are looking into reports that there were people from outside who were involved in the flare-up
- I appeal to people not to pay heed to rumours