UP govt okays withdrawal of cases against riot accused

Uttar Pradesh government has recommended withdrawal of 38 criminal cases against more than 100 people, including former union minister Sanjiv Baliyan, who were accused in 2013 Muzaffarnagar communal riots.

State home department has written a letter to the district magistrate of Muzaffarnagar asking him to approach the district court for its permission to withdraw the cases.

While the opposition parties slammed the government decision, the BJP welcomed it saying that most of the cases were ''politically motivated''.

''It is clear that the state government wants to shield BJP leaders, who had inflamed communal passion in Muzaffarnagar,'' said a Samajwadi Party leader here.