Lucknow:
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has admitted that the Muzaffarnagar communal riots in his state have been a setback for him. He also admitted for that riot victims are still afraid to return to their homes, a fact that reflects poorly on his administration.
"The Muzaffarnagar riots happened on my watch... it will always be associated with my tenure. It is the job of a government to protect its people," the 40-year-old leader, whose Samajwadi Party banks heavily on minority votes, said in an exclusive interview to NDTV.
Over 60 people, mostly Muslims, lost their lives and about 45,000 people were forced to take shelter in relief camps in the Muzaffarnagar violence two months ago. Many, the Chief Minister said, were refusing to return to their homes. "We tried...but they are not ready to go back as they saw people who they loved burn their homes and kill their family members...That's why we have given them a rehab package to restart their lives. The camps will end soon."
Responding to the criticism his year-and-a-half-old government has been facing for over 50 incidents of communal violence in his state, the Samajwadi Party leader said perception matters in politics. "Work needs to be seen to be done," he said.
Asked about Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's controversial statement that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI had approached the Muzaffarnagar victims, Mr Yadav advised caution. "Such remarks end up benefiting the communal forces," he said.
Mr Yadav, whose father Mulayam Singh props the minority UPA government at the Centre as head of the SP, said there was no chance of his party allying with the Congress in next year's national elections. "When it comes to achievements, Congress has nothing to show," Mr Yadav said.
"The Muzaffarnagar riots happened on my watch... it will always be associated with my tenure. It is the job of a government to protect its people," the 40-year-old leader, whose Samajwadi Party banks heavily on minority votes, said in an exclusive interview to NDTV.
Over 60 people, mostly Muslims, lost their lives and about 45,000 people were forced to take shelter in relief camps in the Muzaffarnagar violence two months ago. Many, the Chief Minister said, were refusing to return to their homes. "We tried...but they are not ready to go back as they saw people who they loved burn their homes and kill their family members...That's why we have given them a rehab package to restart their lives. The camps will end soon."
Responding to the criticism his year-and-a-half-old government has been facing for over 50 incidents of communal violence in his state, the Samajwadi Party leader said perception matters in politics. "Work needs to be seen to be done," he said.
Asked about Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's controversial statement that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI had approached the Muzaffarnagar victims, Mr Yadav advised caution. "Such remarks end up benefiting the communal forces," he said.
Mr Yadav, whose father Mulayam Singh props the minority UPA government at the Centre as head of the SP, said there was no chance of his party allying with the Congress in next year's national elections. "When it comes to achievements, Congress has nothing to show," Mr Yadav said.
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