M A I N   N E W S

Muzaffarnagar Mayhem
PM, Sonia reach out to UP riot victims
Manmohan promises strictest action against the perpetrators
Shahira Naim/TNS

Lucknow, September 16
Terming the Muzaffarnagar communal violence as a “major incident”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured “strictest punishment” for those responsible for riots besides all possible help to the Akhilesh Yadav government to bring the situation back to normal.

“I have come here to get a feel of the situation… It is the duty of the state government that the people should feel secure enough to return to their villages. Our priority and effort will be that displaced people feel safe enough to return home. The Centre will extend all help to the state government to bring about normalcy,” the PM said.

The PM reached the refugee camp at Bassi Kalan village, 30 km from Muzaffarnagar, around 10.30 am. He spent around 30 minutes hearing woes of the displaced. He was accompanied by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Minister of State for Home RPN Singh, UP Governor BL Joshi and state Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ahmad Hasan.

Sonia Gandhi moved away from the entourage and crossed the barricade to speak to the women. Visibly moved, Sonia was seen reassuring the wailing women.

Later they visited the refugee camp at Tawli village where a 42-year-old riot-hit Jameel from Kutbi village held on the Prime Minister’s hand crying that he did not want to go back to his home as his life was no longer safe there.

Riot-affected Jameel Bassi (42) from Kutbi village said he told the Prime Minister that the victims did not want to go back to their homes as their lives are in danger.

The team also visited the residence of IBN 7 reporter Rajesh Verma who was killed in the September 7 violence. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi met the widow of the reporter and garlanded his portrait.

The Prime Minister announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased journalist’s family and free education to his two children as well as guarantee of a government job. The state government had earlier announced a compensation of Rs 15 lakh for Verma’s family.

Healing touch

* The PM reached the refugee camp at Bassi Kalan village around 10.30 am and spent 30 minutes there hearing woes of the displaced

* He was accompanied by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi

* Manmohan and Sonia also stopped by the roadside to talk to villagers of Barvala. “I am here to share your pain,” the PM said

Instilling confidence

Our priority and effort will be that the displaced people feel safe enough to return home. The Centre will extend all help to the state government to bring about normalcy.

— Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister

UP Govt failed despite warning: Centre

New Delhi, September 16
The Centre today came down heavily on the UP Government for its alleged failure to prevent riots in Muzaffarnagar. “The Centre had warned the UP government about the communal tension. The Home Minister (Sushilkumar Shinde) spoke to the Chief Minister. But they ignored the warning. They even did not stop the (Jat) Mahapanchayat ,” MoS for Home RPN Singh said. — PTI