New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday accused UP
Chief Minister Mayawati of failing to control communal riots
in Bareilly and likened her to Roman emperor Nero.
"What kind of a government is this? Bareilly is burning
and there is celebration in Lucknow," Congress spokesman
Manish Tewari said and demanded a judicial enquiry into the
riots by a sitting judge of the Allahabd High Court.
He claimed that the way communal divide was allowed to
increase in Bareilly and the riots were not stopped clearly
suggests that there was "an attempt to polarise the people" in
UP.
The spokesman said that the BJP joining hands with the BSP
was visible in the last Lok Sabha elections and that the
saffron party had taught BSP "the politics of riots".
"The Nero sitting in UP has a big role. Without
administrative support, no riot can continue for two weeks.
Gujarat is an example. The results were disastrous for the
country," he said, likening Mayawati to the Roman emperor
infamous for his cruelty and extravagance.
Referring to the speech of Mayawati at a BSP rally in
Lucknow yesterday, Tewari said she was teaching history in her
speech but if she learns her lessons well, UP will benefit.
"She says no law stops her from building her statues.
Law does not stop anybody from doing such things - tradition
and decorum does. Those who do not understand it are consigned
to the dustbins of history," he said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 18:37