BJP fuelling communal tensions in Uttar Pradesh, alleges Mulayam Singh Yadav

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose party is in power in Uttar Pradesh, accused BJP of fuelling communal tension in the state, even as he sought to downplay recent incidents of violence claiming that they were inter-community disputes and not riots.

"They are responsible or are behind these communal riots... They had created this communal riots," he said on Thursday referring to the treasury benches while participating in a discussion on communal violence.

His comment triggered strong protest from BJP and its allies, who were on their feet.

Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai pleaded with the members not to "shout" in the middle of a speech and if they have objection they should raise it later.

"Muzaffarnagar was not a communal riot. It was a dispute between two communities. It was a struggle between a caste and a community and people were murdered.

"Same thing happened in Saharanpur. There was a dispute over a land whether Gurudwara and Mosque was to be built. It was a dispute between two communities and people were killed," he said.

He said within two days situation was brought under control and in no other state, situation could be contained in such short time.

Last month violent clashes broke out between two communities over a land dispute in Saharanpur. Violence too had erupted last year in Muzaffarnagar after killing of three youths.

"Communalism is dangerous for the country. On small matters communal flares blow up... We have been victims of communalism," Yadav said.

He said there are two reasons for rise in communal tension in the country -- mutual distrust and minorities not getting enough facilities.

There was loss of harmony in the country, he said, while demanding setting up of a committee to look into the incidence of violence.

With the government of his son Akhilesh Yadav under attack over a number of rape cases in the state, the SP chief claimed that UP has the best law and order situation in the country.

"Most rapes took place in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. UP has the minimum number of rapes," Yadav said.

Lok Sabha took up a debate on the communal violence nearly a week after Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi led his party members into the Well to demand urgent debate on the issue.

Accusing the government of stimulating communal violence, E T Mohammed Basheer (IUML) said BJP is trying to poison the minds of young generation in Gujarat by giving them lessons on Hinduism.

He said the BJP government came to power by glorifying the Gujarat riots. "They (BJP) have to find out a way to control communal violence," he said.

Citing apprehensions in the minds of minorities that they would have to hide if the BJP-led NDA came into power, Mohammad Asrarul Haque (Cong) said that apprehension has come true.

"There is an atmosphere of fear and minorities are feeling beleaguered. Government should take steps to remove such apprehensions and preserve the Constitutional rights of minorities," Haque said.

People who are held for communal riots are not being punished, he said, and demanded that the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill be passed.

Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD) said that loving any religion does not make a person communal, but hating a religion makes him communal.

He said not only Muslims, but Hindus and Sikhs too have contributed to the development of this country and hence all religions should be respected.

Asserting that there is peace and harmony in the country, BJP member Kirti Azad said allegations should not be made against the government if they could not be proved.

TMC member Sugata Bose said that minorities are feeling the cold winds of political seclusion.

Noting that he was not getting into "war of statistics or blame game", he said everyone should work towards ensuring peace and harmony in the country.

In recent times, communal incidents have been taking place in some of the election-bound states, he said.

RSP member N K Premachandran said there is apprehension about safety among minorities after the new government came to power. The government should take the concerns of minorities seriously, he added.

Arvind Ganpat Sawant (Shiv Sena) said many are trying to practice divisive politics and emphasised that everyone should talk about love and compassion.