Ashok Singhal attacks SP govt in UP, claims communal peace in Gujarat

NEW DELHI: Accusing the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh of failing to control the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar, VHP leader Ashok Singhal today claimed Gujarat has seen peace under chief ministership of Narendra Modi as he has treated Hindus and Muslims alike in the state.

Talking to reporters here, Singhal alleged "Jihadis" are being encouraged by the government, which is disturbing peace. He specifically mentioned "love jihad" as one of the reasons behind the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar.

"Whenever there was a Hindu king in the country, everyone was treated alike. This happens in Gujarat. The way Hindus and Muslims live in peace in Gujarat, similar thing can happen across the country but Jihadis should not be encouraged", he said.

Charging the Uttar Pradesh government with faliure to control riots in the state, Singhal said "the situation is the same as it was in Gujarat and they blamed Modi for it. The government should be dismissed as it has lost all respect."

He also slammed SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for UP government's refusal of permission to VHP to undertake the 84 Kosi yatra in UP.

"When we went to meet Mulayam Singh, we did not think he would deny us permission. We thought two dozen cops were enough to handle the situation but they called in 40 companies of troops and Hindu society was terrorised. And today, the communal riots have reached Shamli, Meerut and other parts," Singhal said.

He said the outbreak of the Muzaffarnagar riots was because of an eve-teasing incident. Calling for a law in the country against what he termed "love jihad", Singhal said "for waging 'love-jihad' money comes from the Gulf nations. They provide money and motorcycles to lure girls and this has been happening across the country. The people of Muzaffarnagar have shown that they will not tolerate this."