Vote-bank politics led to Moradabad violence?

Yet another mob violence in communally sensitive western Uttar Pradesh, this time in Moradabad district, has once again proved that the state administration has not learnt anything from its mistakes during last year's deadly Muzaffarnagar riots. The ruling Samajwadi Party Government's slow pace in settling the dispute, triggered after removal of a loudspeaker from a Dalit temple in Kanth town, and the BJP's intervention in the entire matter shows that both the political parties want to gain mileage out of it.

The recent spate of violent protests erupted on Friday after the police tried to stop some people from holding a 'mahapanchayat' in the area. 12 officers, including District Magistrate Chandra Kant, were injured in stone pelting by the protesters.

BJP leaders, including four MPs and an MLA who was accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots, were detained. The BJP has however blamed the UP Government for appeasing a particular community.

Why was Akhilesh Government inactive?

What raises suspicion over the State Government's approach in the entire matter is what took the administration a week to remove the loudspeaker? Surely, the party didn't want to offend both the Dalit as well as the Muslim vote-bank and was therefore shying away from intervening into the matter. But, Akhilesh Yadav Government was quick to react when the opposition came in favour of the Dalits and called upon a mahapanchayat.

Why the BJP intervened?

If the BJP's version is to be believed then the loudspeaker was present at the temple premises for last five years and no complaints were reported in these years. Therefore, a question arises that why did the administration agree for its removal now? This brings the state government's role under suspicion. What could be understood by this move is, Akhilesh Yadav regime wants to appease a particular community.

What took the local administration a week to remove the loudspeaker?

Another question which comes to our mind is why BJP jumped into the matter? And the answer probably is, eyeing the upcoming by-elections in the state over 12 Assembly seats, the BJP wants to capitalise over the Dalit vote-bank. There is no denying the fact that post Muzaffarnagar riots, the BJP had received the Jat votes in the recently concluded general elections. Therefore, the party which bagged whopping 70-plus seats from the state would be hoping to strengthen its grasp over other voters in the state as well.

Since BSP supremo Mayawati, after facing a rout in the Lok Sabha polls, has cleared that her party will not contest in the by-polls. It will be a bipolar contest between SP and BJP.

BJP has also alleged that the State Government is acting in a discriminatory manner in handling the situation and blamed the senior police officers for acting like ‘Samajwadi Party workers'.

Defending its stand of backing the Dalits, BJP's UP president Laxmi Kant Bajpai said, "Mike at a temple (in Kanth) was installed for the last five years. Two-and-a-half month ago it developed snag and was repaired. However, after that, a section of people in the village opposed its re-installation."

"When MP Sarvesh Kumar Singh got it installed it was removed by police," he said.

"Like Muzaffarnagar, the UP Government and administration are acting in a discriminatory manner against a particular community," Bajpai alleged.

Meanwhile, the UP Government has on Tuesday said that it has sent a report on the recent incidence of violence in Kanth in Moradabad district to the Centre.