An analysis of spate of communal riots and current UP politics by the TCN Special Correspondent
Lucknow: The most discussed topic in Uttar Pradesh these days is—law and order situation. Be it anywhere, road side kiosk, tea stall, college, university, bureaucracy, political party’s offices and even in secretariat — law and order issues are on everybody’s lips.
The discussion always starts with a question —Yeh Kya ho raha hai? (What is happening?). People recount that the series of communal riots soon after Akhilesh Yadav took over as CM of the state on March 15. It began with Kosi Kalan in Mathura, Asthan in Pratapgarh, Bareilly, Masuri in Ghaziabad, Allahabad, and now Faizabad…
Moradabad riot of Feb. 2011 [TCN Photo]
Everyone is concerned. No one has the answer. Why these riots are erupting? It is the same story everywhere — arson, casualty, police inaction followed by atrocities, claims — counter claims. They make headlines for few days, appear on websites and soon are replaced with other reports where names of places change, but rest all remain the same.
It’s high time we avoided reporting the riots and dwell on the reasons of the recurrence with intermittent frequency. A state that nearly remained peaceful during the BSP regime of Mayawati, is now simmering. What has happened in the past seven months?
Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders term it as a conspiracy to defame their government. “These are sporadic incidents and we are committed to take stern action against the perpetrators of these incidents. State government will not tolerate such incidents,” state spokesperson, SP, Rajendra Choudhary claimed.
Even today, CM Akhilesh Yadav who was in Moradabad mentioned that his government had controlled the Faizabad incident very quickly.
A senior officer in state government however differs. “Any government functions and survives due to its ‘Iqbal’. You cannot depute a policeman behind every man. There should be fear instilled in people’s mind that if they do any wrong, they will not be spared,” he confided.
CM Mayawati had succeeded in instilling this fear among both public and officials. Everyone feared, a fear which prevented them from taking to street, indulging in arson, etc. Barring the corruption charges against Mayawati’s government, she ruled with a firm hand.
Presently, SP government is pulled from all quarters. Multiple power centres in the government—Shivpal Yadav, Azam Khan, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ramgopal Yadav all have their own followers.
Even the police and officials are divided amongst them. The result being backtracking on decision, indecisiveness, political compulsions and go soft approach has resulted in anarchy in the state.
However, there is a silver lining in these incidents. Muslim clerics are ‘fully satisfied.’ Imam Ahmed Bukhari of Jama Masjid who used to rush for any reason to Lucknow and raise issue of Muslim welfare is nowhere in the scene. Vice President, All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Kalbe Sadiq openly announced that Mulayam’s intentions should not be doubted.
Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli is on Haj pilgrimage and is yet to return. No Muslim organisation worth its name has even issued a two line statement against the state government.
The saffron brigade is over joyed. Finally they are free and can now openly play their cards. There is no one to check them. It was in BSP regime that no one took to streets now protests are a common thing in the name of democracy.
Political experts claim that polarisation on religious lines will benefit Samajwadi Party. It never did in the past. It is just a misnomer. SP had got maximum 35 seats in 2004 when the polarization was not on religious lines but division of votes between parties. In polarisation only BJP benefitted from UP.
In 2012 assembly elections the results were an indicator that people of UP have decided to vote above caste, creed and religious lines.These riots have not only shattered the thin harmony line between two communities but also the faith of voters who had decided to vote for development.
CM post is the last step for many politicians but for Akhilesh it became the first because people wanted change, vibrancy, development. They are taken aback and again sent to the age old dictum — vote on caste, religion lines.