Muzaffarnagar riots: Inquiry panel blames both BJP, SP for violence; political blame game ensues

The one-man inquiry commission probing Muzaffarnagar riot has blamed both ruling SP and BJP for violence, according to a report published in a leading DailyO. While, the content of the report hasn't been formally made public yet, the blame game has already begun. 

A day after the submission of the report, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday denied its involvement and accused the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) of initiating the uproar, claiming that they have enough evidence to prove the latter's participation.

The report, which was submitted by the retired judge of Allahabad High Court Vishnu Sahai, blamed both the parties for the violence. "There is no involvement of BJP in the riots. The report of the enquiry commission is not final. Everyone knows how the commission was set up. We will comment adequately after analysing the report," Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai told ANI in Lucknow. 

"We have enough evidences to prove that the Muzaffarnagar riots were initiated by the Samajwadi Party,"he added. The one-man inquiry commission probing the Muzaffarnagar riots that took place in August 2013 submitted its report to Governor Ram Naik on Wednesday.

The commission headed by Justice Sahai was formed to look into administrative lapses in controlling the violence and role played by media as well as politicians in flaring up the riots. It has submitted a detailed report divided in six parts.

Around 60 persons were killed during the violence and dozens of houses and shops were gutted in the arson that continued for days. The report has not been made public, but according to reports published in a leading daily, apart from the politicians of both SP and BJP, Justice Sahai has also blamed senior police officials and administrative officers for not taking timely action which led to the flaring up of violence. 

UP Governor Ram Naik is expected to send the report to CM Akhilesh Yadav who will decide on the future course of action. The detailed 775 page report has recorded the accounts of nearly 500 people. 

Congress leader Manish Tewary has demanded strict action against the accused. He has said, "Strict action should be taken against those who perpetrated the riots in Muzaffarnagar and were responsible for killing of innocent people irrespective of which political party they come from". 

With ANI inputs