Mau riots have hurt image of government: Mulayam

He said ‘‘no fresh incident has been reported from Mau in the last 24 hours, since the divisional commissioner, district magistrate, SSP and local thana incharge were punished for dereliction of duty’’.

He pointed fingers at intelligence agencies for failure in comprehending the communal buildup in Mau—represented in the Assembly by independent MLA Mokhtar Ansari. Stating that he had instructed DGP Yashpal Singh and Principal Secretary, Home, Alok Sinha to probe the alleged role of Ansari in instigating violence, Mulayam dispelled the notion that his government was soft either on Ansari who was a supporting partner of the ruling alliance, or any member of the ruling Samajwadi Party.

‘‘Those found guilty of fanning the communal fire would be severely punished irrespective of party affiliation,’’ the CM warned.

The riots rekindled memories of October-November 1990 (during Mulayam’s maiden stint as CM) when curfew was clamped on 40 towns following violence over the Ayodhya issue.

However, in spite of the CM’s claim that things were normal, tension was palpable in at least half-a-dozen towns including Varanasi, Ghazipur, Azamgarh and Gorakhpur.

With the violence in the ongoing zila and kshetra panchayat elections, which have so far claimed six lives in Bahraich and Mau districts, becoming a contributory factor to the overall law and order deterioration in the state, UP appears to be sitting on a powder keg where only a spark is needed to ignite the communal fuse.

In fact, the violence in Bahraich district during panchayat polls on October 15 assumed communal overtones; those killed were members of a particular community.

Mulayam’s appeal for peace is being seen as a last-ditch effort to restore credibility of his government and prevent further deterioration in the situation. The BJP has demanded that President’s rule be imposed in UP and Mau be handed over to the Army.