Don't play politics over Muzaffarnagar violence: AMU teachers

Ask politicians to refrain from making inflammatory statements

The Aligarh Muslim University Teachers' Association (AMUTA) today urged political parties "not to play politics over the dead bodies" of the victims of the communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar.

The executive committee of the AMUTA passed a resolution here today asking politicians to refrain from making inflammatory statements which could further flare up the situation in the troubled areas.

The resolution stated that normalcy was still far off in the troubled districts of western Uttar Pradesh and large scale migration was still taking place.

It said that there was strong evidence to suggest that the recent communal disturbances were a deliberate attempt to foment passions in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in order to polarise votes on communal lines.

"This angle has to be probed by a high level enquiry," the resolution said.

Talking to reporters, AMUTA secretary Aftab Alam said that the need of the hour was to control the situation with an iron hand and immediately set up fast track courts to punish all those responsible for the violence.

Alam said that a time bound high level inquiry should be instituted by the National Human Right Commission and the National Commission of Minorities.

He said media reports which have suggested that "students of Darul Uloom Deoband theological school travelling on trains were also attacked" were a matter of serious concern.

The resolution also demanded punitive action against all those officials who allowed tension to simmer for several days and failed to take preventive steps.