Beni flays UP govt for conditions at riot-relief camps

Rahul Gandhi's surprise visit to Muzaffarnagar to meet riot victims triggered a fresh round of sparring between SP and Congress today with Mulayam Singh Yadav alleging it was aimed at inciting people and Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma flaying the UP government for conditions at the relief camps.

A day after Gandhi's visit to the camps during which he hit out at Samajwadi Party government alleging the conditions in the relief camps were "very bad", Verma also attacked it for not providing proper facilities there. He asked the Uttar Pradesh government to resign if it had any morality left.

Verma also promised to set up five steel camps for providing shelter to riot-hit people in view of biting cold prevailing in the region.

"If there is any morality left and the government had any real concern about Muslims and the country, it should resign. Let there be President's rule and peace and order would be established in a week's time", the Congress leader said while talking to newspersons here.

"I have already given directives to my ministry to set by five steel camps which would be completed in 15 to 20 days time for providing shelter to those living in the relief camps. I appeal to the state government that if they are not able to do anything for the victims they can tell me and I will definitely get it done by talking to Rahul Gandhi", the Steel Minister said.

Regretting that conditions in the relief camps were not good with winter setting in, Verma claimed though the SP government is regarded as sympathetic towards Muslims, the people in the camps were bereft of ration, blankets and security.

Yadav on his part questioned the Congress Vice President's visit, saying people living in camps were misled by Congress and BJP men.

"Where was he when there was injustice? He earlier returned from Muzaffarnagar after just waving hands. Congress and BJP leaders used to visit the relief camps in the night and mislead people there. This is all a conspiracy of Congress and BJP," Yadav said addressing party workers at SP headquarters here.

"Now, they have reached there for inciting the people," he alleged.

Stating that the UP government had done whatever was possible for the victims, Yadav said while Rs five lakh was given for construction of houses, Rs 2 lakh was given for purchase of essential items.

"No such facilities were given to such victims anywhere in India", he said.