Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat on Thursday said that the Akhilesh Yadav led-Uttar Pradesh Government should take drastic steps to arrest all culprits responsible for the violence in Muzaffarnagar which claimed the lives of at least 40 people.
"Muzaffarnagar violence is a big blot on our secular credentials and I think the Uttar Pradesh Government should take drastic steps," he said.
Congress leader Jagdambika Pal, echoing similar sentiments, said that stern action should be taken against all those found guilty irrespective of their political affiliation.
"Anyone who is involved, be it from my party or any other political outfit, stern action must be taken against those found guilty," he said.
A local court in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants against politicians for allegedly inciting communal violence.
According to reports, the court ordered arrests of Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) MP Kadir Rana, MLAs Jameel Ahmed and Noor Salim Rana, Congress leader Saeduzzaman, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MLAs Sangeet Som and Bhartendu Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leaders Rakesh Tikait and Naresh Tikait and 16 other politicians.
A sting operation had allegedly revealed the involvement of senior leaders and the Government of Uttar Pradesh in the violence that rocked Muzaffarnagar district of the state.
During the sting operation, the officials admitted that there was pressure from the top and they were forced to release the rioters.
On Tuesday, a news channel aired a sting operation on the Muzaffarnagar communal riots, which alleged that Azam Khan had instructed police officials to take delayed action in curbing the communal violence in the area.
Reports suggest that the two district police officers in the footage of the sting operations-Budhana inspector Rishipa and an Inspector of Fhuwana police station-were transferred on Tuesday evening after Headlines Today broke their 'Operation Riot For Votes'.
According to media reports, the police, however, claim that the transfers were 'routine'.
The Uttar Pradesh Government has constituted a one-member judicial commission to probe the Muzaffarnagar violence, which has claimed over 40 lives.
The commission, which would mainly look into administrative lapses, if any, in controlling the violence, would submit its report to the government within two months.
Violence broke out in the Kawal area of Muzaffarnagar on August 27, when members of a community returning from a panchayat meeting in Naglabadhod, three kilometres from Kawal, clashed with members of another community.
