BJP labels PM,Sonia visit secular tourism

It charged them with taking a secular ride on the back of communal riots while the people expected the central government to act.

The BJP Monday described the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi to riot-hit Muzaffarnagar as secular tourism. It charged them with taking a secular ride on the back of communal riots while the people expected the central government to act.

Almost one month after the communal violence took place in Muzaffarnagar,Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited the area yesterday. Today the Prime Minister,Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul have gone there for secular tourism, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Monday,adding that they are taking a secular ride on the communal riots which took place under the nose of the central government and in front of the eyes of the UP government.

BSP chief Mayawati also criticised the visit and faulted the Centre for not dismissing the Uttar Pradesh government and imposing Presidents rule.

Otherwise,this act of meeting the victims is only a drama. This will not give any relief to people of Uttar Pradesh. Merely putting balm on their wounds would not help8230;. The Centre should discharge its constitutional obligation, Mayawati said.

Naqvi wondered why Sonia and Rahul were allowed to go to Muzaffarnagar when BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad and others were prevented.

Even a central minister Ajit Singh was not permitted to go there. They were told if they visit the place the situation will worsen. But the Prime Minister,the Super Prime Minister and Yuvraj went there only to rub salt on the wounds of the victims, the BJP leader said.

He alleged that the riots were sponsored by the SP-led government in the state through a protection to rioters and added that the least expected from the central government was action against the state government.