BJP blamed for Saharanpur violence

An inquiry committee set up by the UP government to probe the recent communal unrest in Saharanpur has blamed administrative lapses and the BJP for the violence, which claimed three lives and left scores injured.

The five-member committee, headed by senior minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, said in its report that the violence could have been prevented had the local administration acted wisely and not allowed crowds to gather at the disputed site in the town.

“The local authorities should not have allowed construction of the wall at the disputed site,” said the committee, which submitted its report to chief minister . The committee also held local BJP MP Raghav Lakhanpal responsible for inciting violence in the town.

Yadav told reporters in Azamgarh on Sunday that the MP had incited communal passion, which led to torching of shops and homes.­