Muzaffarnagar riots in 2013 claimed over 60 lives and displaced more than 40,000 people
The Yogi Adityanath government, which has been trying to give amnesty to its leaders in what the chief minister called "old, non-serious cases", is trying to withdraw 131 cases related to the Muzaffarnagar riots, all of them filed against members of one community. Some of the cases include serious charges -- rioting, arson, attempt to murder and even murder - shows a copy of the government's letter to the district administration, dated February 23, which is in possession of NDTV.
Former Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan, who, along with legislator Umesh Malik, met the Chief Minister with a list of more than 150 cases last month, calling for their withdrawal, denied that the cases are serious. "Most are bogus litigation registered by the police," said the lawmaker, who represents Muzaffarnagar in Lok Sabha. "Women and youths are framed in false cases. They have been running around courts for the last 5 years".
More than 60 people were killed during the 2013 riots in Muzaffarnagar, after which the police filed more than 150 cases.
Asked about the issue, state law minister Brajesh Pathak told NDTV, "We had taken a call to reduce pendency of cases... we want to withdraw politically motivated cases in Uttar Pradesh". The minister, however, refused to elaborate on "specific cases". "Don't have those files, but yes, cases are filed to trouble people and yes, we do intend to take such cases back," he added.
Two months ago, the government explored the possibility of dropping the cases against Mr Balyan, Mr Malik and BJP leader Suresh Rana, who were accused of making provocative speeches and inciting riots in Muzaffarnagar.
The government wrote to the district administration, asking whether the Senior Superintendent of Police thought that the cases against Mr Malik should be withdrawn. The others were not named, but the file numbers were mentioned in the letter. The District Magistrate was asked whether the cases could be withdrawn in public interest.
A number of cases against BJP leaders, including Yogi Adityanath, are being withdrawn slowly after the state government passed a controversial law in December that provides amnesty to politicians from what the Chief Minister has called old, "non-serious" cases against them.
The opposition Samajwadi Party, which had opposed the bill in the assembly, accused the government of placating a particular community. Senior Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav, a close aide of former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, said, "Yogi is doing everything to please a specific community. But his formula will not work".