The Supreme Court has in no uncertain terms given the Uttar Pradesh government a rap for failing to gather intelligence and act in time to prevent the Muzaffarnagar riots that killed at least 60 and displaced thousands in September 2013. In refusing to direct a CBI or SIT probe, the judges clearly indicated they knew where the blame lay. Any such probe would only give a chance to deflect the blame.
The time is past for playing the blame game; it’s time to try make amends by providing relief to all genuine victims, instead of going by the religious affiliation of victims, as quite predictably proposed by UP’s ruling party. Such an approach in even relief work betrays the mindset of those ruling UP who are looking to extract some advantage out of even an upheaval like communal riots.
In asking that the state act against all involved in inciting or encouraging riots regardless of their political links, the court is once again saying only what the administration should have done already. But today’s politics is such that doing what is right seems impossible even in the face of something as uncivilised and inhuman as killing people for their religious beliefs.
With elections nearing, there is even less chance of the law being enforced equitably. There is no arguing against the fact that the Supreme Court is increasingly the one place where the voice of reason is heard on most subjects. The point, however, is how many are willing to listen to reason and act suitably?
