The inept handling of the Muzaffarnagar clashes has made the Muslims so hostile that they are willing to rehabilitate themselves through the zakat money that is coming in from the community itself.
A senior SP minister told this correspondent on Saturday that the party was aware of the mood among Muslims but would pacify the community and help in healing their wounds at the earliest.
“Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav will visit Muzaffarnagar in a day or two and the chief minister will also pay another visit to assess the rehabilitation work at the ground level,” he said. “Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav will be visiting Muzaffarnagar where he will meet the riot victims and listen to their woes. He will then direct the state government to work for their rehabilitation. The party leadership is keen to assuage the feelings of Muslims who have suffered immensely in the riots. The state government is doing all it can for their rehabilitation and the party will also do the same,” said a senior party functionary.
It may be recalled that during his visit to Muzaffarnagar last week, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had been shown black flags by angry Muslims who felt that the government had not taken the necessary steps to protect them during the riots.