PM Manmohan to visit riot-affected Muzaffarnagar tomorrow, NIC calls meeting

Express News Service : New Delhi, Sun Sep 15 2013, 10:13 hrs

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pm-manmohan-to-visit-riotaffected-muzaffarnagar-tomorrow-nic-calls-meeting/1169363/

PM is scheduled to visit the riot-affected Muzaffarnagar district, in which 39 people were killed, to assess the situation on the ground. (IE Photo)

In a move that is set to put more pressure on the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh, which has come under fire following the communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in which 39 people have been killed, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit the troubled district Monday to assess the situation on the ground.

Muzaffarnagar Riots: Cops ask FB to block violence video

The Prime Minister's last visit to a riot-affected area was his Assam trip last year.

A meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC) has also been convened on September 23 to discuss the increasing communal incidents in different parts of the country.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi are likely to accompany the Prime Minister to Muzaffarnagar, although there was no official confirmation until late Saturday evening. Sources said Rahul has deferred a meeting of senior party functionaries scheduled on Monday.

PHOTOS: Scared villagers flee homes in affected areas

The ruling party had earlier announced that Sonia and Rahul would visit the riot-affected areas next week.

The Prime Minister's scheduled visit to Muzaffarnagar and the NIC meeting which will be attended by all union ministers and chief ministers reflect the Centre's concern.

Although Sonia and Rahul have so far maintained silence on the Muzaffarnagar clashes, their visit to the affected areas will come at a time when the Samajwadi Party (SP) is facing flak from Muslim leaders and organisations for its failure to protect their lives and properties.

Editorial: Communal conflict in UP must be checked

Incidentally, the decision on the Prime Minister's visit comes a day after Narendra Modi was declared the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. The Congress had earlier sought to drag Modi's name into the issue with party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury saying, "Modi released Amit Shah into UP and you have seen the trailer of what is to come."