Rajnath Singh denied permission to visit riot-hit Muzaffarnagar

NEW DELHI: BJP President Rajnath Singh was denied permission to visit riot-hit Muzaffarnagar even as he accused the SP government of selectively targeting his party leaders.

He also accused the Samajwadi Party of spreading riots in Uttar Pradesh whenever it comes to power in the state and said a delegation would meet the President next week to give him an account of the prevailing situation in riot-hit areas.

"I wanted to meet the families of the victims and take stock of the situation. But the district administration denied me permission saying my visit is not possible in the present circumstances," he told reporters at his official residence here.

He said the recent sting operation carried by news channels has proved that those in power in UP had a role in violence.

"The SP and the BSP want to gain mileage out of the prevailing situation in UP in the Lok Sabha elections," he alleged.

He said he has set up a committee under BJP Legislature Party leader in UP Hukum Singh to prepare a report on the situation in riot-hit areas and the damage caused by the violence.

"We will hand over the report to the President when we meet him on September 24. BJP MLAs from UP will also be part of the delegation," he said.
Asked why he chose to heed to the request of the district administration by cancelling his visit, Singh said had he defied it he would have been accused of "fanning tension".

"While I have decided not to go, I condemn the approach of the district administration and the state government...I was going to apply balm on the wounds and not to create further tension," he said.

He also demanded fair compensation to people who have lost their property and kith and kin in the violence.

Talking to reporters, Humkum Singh said while several FIRs have been lodged in connection with the violence against leaders of BSP, Congress and BJP, MLAs from his party have been selectively picked up by police.

He also rubbished suggestions that he was booked by the police for delivering a hate speech at a mahapanchayat of a particular community.

"The case is based on the statement of a police official. Which part of speech was aimed at fanning tension? They would certainly have a copy of a CD or a cassette of my speech. the words which they think are aimed at spreading hatred are not mentioned in the FIR," he said.

He alleged that a committee set up by the UP Legislative Assembly to go into the sting operation on violence at the suggestion of Leader of the Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya (BSP) was aimed at muzzling facts. "This shows that the BSP and SP have joined hands," he claimed.