CM gives cheques to Faizabad riot victims

This was Akhilesh's first visit to any place where violence took place in SP regime

Visiting Faizabad one and a half months after the communal violence, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday handed over relief cheques to the victims of rioting, and announced that his government would firmly deal with those who spoiled social amity.

The government would not allow anyone to divide people in the name of caste and religion, the Chief Minister said, adding that those who create discord would be identified and dealt with firmly.

Akhilesh said "some elements" had tried to create social strife in Faizabad for their "selfish ends", but the people of Faizabad and Ayodhya did not allow the situation to deteriorate.

The Chief Minister, who distributed cheques for a total of Rs 1.67 crore to 198 people, expressed hope that the financial relief given by the government would help people in restarting their businesses. He said that the SP government had arranged for payment of interim relief to the affected people "within seven days".

The violence in Faizabad and nearby towns of Shahganj and Bhadarsa, which broke out during Durga Puja on October 24, had claimed two lives and nearly 100 shops were set on fire. The town had remained under curfew for about a week.

This is Akhilesh Yadav's first visit to any place where violence has taken place under the SP regime. Earlier, rioting had taken place at Kosi Kalan in Mathura, Asthan in Pratapgarh, and Bareilly, but the CM did not visit any of them.

However, he had sent Urban Development Minister Azam Khan to Kosi Kalan, and a delegation of SP leaders to Asthan to listen to the grievances of the people.

Among those who got relief cheques, 101 were from Faizabad city who together got Rs 1 crore. Earlier, they were given Rs 50 lakh as interim relief. The district administration had, in its report, valued the loss in Faizabad city at Rs 7 crore.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Cong to cash in on SP govt’s ‘neglect’ of minorities

At AMU, students more bothered about ban on motorbikes than wearing sherwanis

Mulayam pep talk for backward caste leaders

Mulayam Singh Yadav sets sight on Centre, seeks party's expansion