BJP MLA arrested for Muzaffarnagar riots

Facing severe criticism for failing to contain the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and for going soft on politicians who had been booked for allegedly inciting violence, the Samajwadi Party (SP) government made the first political arrest in connection with the riots on Friday.

BJP legislator Suresh Rana, who is an MLA from the neighbouring Shamli district, which also witnessed communal clashes, was arrested from his residence here on Friday.

Rana had been booked for allegedly delivering provocative speeches and the police were “looking for him” though the MLA was very much in the state capital and had also attended the monsoon session of the Assembly.

Rana, who faces charges under sections 153 A (promoting enmity among groups on basis of religion), 353 (provoking with intent to cause riots) and 435 (damage to property), besides some other sections of the Indian Penal Code, was produced before a magistrate and would be taken to Muzaffarnagar on a transit remand.

Rana’s arrest comes on a day when the Assembly was adjourned sine die.  He is the first politician who has been arrested in connection with the violence.  Though warrants had also been issued against BJP MLAs Hukum Singh and Sangeet Som, they are yet to be arrested.
As many as 16 leaders from various political parties had been booked for allegedly inciting communal passion.

They included MLAs from the BJP and BSP,  and leaders from the SP and Congress.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said in the Assembly that the BJP MLAs booked in cases of provoking riots would not be spared.

Meanwhile, around 40,000 people are still living in relief camps after they fled from their homes following the violence.

Keep eye on  communalists

Asking people to keep vigil against communal forces in the aftermath of the Muzaffarnagar riots, country’s top leadership on Friday underscored the obligation to promote amity and goodwill, while wondering why people failed to learn the lessons from history and keep repeating the “same tragic” mistakes, reports DHNS from New Delhi.