While BJP dismissed allegations of involvement in the violence, party MLA Sangeet Som, also accused in the case, rejected the report of Justice Vishnu Sahay Commission and claimed that there was “sufficient proof” against leaders of SP. “I want to ask whether our statements were taken by the Commission. We have sufficient proof against SP leaders and officers responsible for the Muzaffarnagar riots. We reject the report,” he said.
Som, who was given Z category security last year by the Modi government, was speaking a day after the one-man Commission submitted to UP Governor Ram Naik the inquiry report into the 2013 riots in Muzaffarnagar and surrounding districts of western Uttar Pradesh which had left over 60 people dead and tens of thousands of others displaced.
The Samajwadi Party alleged that most of the leaders <g data-gr-id="31">chargesheeted</g> in the riots were from the BJP and accused the party of defending and even "rewarding" them.
"Most of the leaders who have been <g data-gr-id="28">chargesheeted</g> and are facing trial for heinous <g data-gr-id="34">offences</g> in the riots are from BJP," Gaurav Bhatia, spokesperson for the Samajwadi Party, alleged. He said the party will take action against any leader found complicit and "will not try to defend them like the BJP".
SP spokesman Rajendra <g data-gr-id="30">Chowhury</g> blamed "communal forces" for vitiating the atmosphere in the state. The Congress demanded strict action against those who "participated, perpetrated and instigated" riots and are responsible for the killing of innocent people, irrespective of their party.
"It is a very serious report. It has vindicated what we have been saying from day one," Congress Party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in Delhi. He said the "report has named" the people who are known and enjoying ministership, adding, "no action was taken against them."
13 arrested, 3 cops suspended after communal violence in UP
As many as 13 people were arrested and three policemen suspended in connection with Wednesday’s communal violence in the Kotwali area. Station House Officer <g data-gr-id="55">Kaudia</g> Alok Dubey, Station in-charge Badgaon Digvijay Nath <g data-gr-id="59">Shahi</g> and head constable Ramesh Rai have been suspended on charges of dereliction of duty, district magistrate Ajay Kumar Upadhyaya said on Thursday. He said that 13 persons from both sides have been arrested and all schools and colleges have been closed on Thursday as a preventive measure.