Arch rivals Samajwadi Party and the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party in UP are set for a showdown in Parliament next week on the issue of riots in Moradabad.
The SP parliamentary board, after a long meeting on the issue, has decided to press for a statement from Union home minister P. Chidambaram, which is likely to be opposed by the BSP on the ground that law and order is a state subject.
The SP and BSP have been looking for an opportunity to settle political score in Parliament, which has so far been denied to them as much of the time has been taken by the BJP.
After SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav told the party’s parliamentary board that Moradabad riots would have serious consequences across the state, the party has decided to seek a statement from Mr Chidambaram.
“We will press for a statement from the home minister in both the Houses of Parliament next week. We want to stress the point that the Moradabad riots have a painful history, full of serious implications for other parts of the state,” said a senior SP functionary.
He said that the SP wants to caution both the Centre and the UP government which need to take all steps to ensure that riots do not spread elsewhere in the state. The SP is gearing up to put the UP government in the dock over the alleged role of the state police in dealing with the riots.
“The role of the UP police is questionable. They committed excesses while dealing with the situation,” added the SP functionary.
Mr Yadav, in fact, reminded the parliamentary board meeting of the party that in 1980 the Moradabad riots had spread to other parts of the state.
Therefore, firm action needs to be taken by the Centre and the state government, he added.