Uttar Pradesh government will withdraw around 131 ''politically motivated'' cases pertaining to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots that claimed 62 lives and left thousands displaced.
UP Law Minister Brajesh Pathak said here on Thursday that the government would withdraw cases, which were ''politically motivated'' and had been registered to settle political scores.
Sources said that a majority of cases, which are to be withdrawn, were lodged against the BJP leaders, including senior leader and former union minister Sanjiv Baliyan and UP minister Suresh Rana.
The state government sought legal opinion before taking the decision.
The decision follows a demand by leaders of the powerful 'khaps' (community panchayats) for withdrawal of what they term ''fake'' cases against youths of the community.
Sources said that BJP did not want to annoy the 'Jats' ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections.
At least 62 people were killed and thousands displaced in communal clashes between Jats and Muslims in Muzaffarnagar in 2013.
Published 22 March 2018, 16:38 IST