Samajwadi Party leaders have realised that that Muslims are angry with Akhilesh Yadav government because of the manner in which Muzaffarnagar riots were “mishandled” causing irreparable loss to the party.

A large number of Muslim organisations, religious leaders had demanded the resignation of Akhilesh Yadav government for its failure to protect minorities in Muzaffarnagar riots where the latter suffered huge losses and were forced to leave their villages.

So much so that chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was greeted with black flags by Muslims during his visit to the affected areas in Muzaffarnagar.

In fact, senior cabinet minister Mohammad Azam Khan who is considered to be Muslim face of the party and the government was so upset that he openly blamed the administration in taking delayed action.

Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh, who ensured maximum number of Muslim votes for their party in 2012 assembly polls, have realised that if corrective steps were not taken immediately, then it would be difficult for Samajwadi Party in 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

The first thing that Mulayam Singh Yadav did to set up high power 10-member ‘Sadhbhavna Samiti’ of his party headed by senior cabinet minister and younger brother Shivpal Yadav and important leaders including Ahmad Hasan, as its members to visit the various parts of Muzaffarnagar in particular and state in general and meet people from different sections of society to wok for communal harmony in the state.

Mulayam and Akhilesh Yadav have issued instructions that strict action should be against troublemakers in the state.

The father-son duo have started visiting Muslim institutions and meeting with Muslim religious leaders to establish good relations and have been generous in giving grants and donations to the institutions.

Mulayam recently met the president of Jamiya Ulema-e-Hind Maulana Arshad Madani and discussed with him the measures to be taken to win back confidence of the community that has been shaken up after the riots.

The Samajwadi Party supremo visited Mumtaj PG College run by Zafaryab Zilani, who is convenor of All India Babri Masjid Action Committee and legal advisor of All India Muslim Personal law Board, and announced a huge grant for the institution. At the same time, Mulayam Singh Yadav said he and his party were committed to protect minorities in the state. He alleged that communal forces were hatching conspiracies to malign his party’s government.

Mulayam commented no matter what people said about his party or state government, he would continue to work for upliftment of Muslims.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also met several Muslims leaders especially brought to Lucknow from various parts of the state and assured them full support. He added his government would protect the minorities in the state and punish persons found the guilty of inciting or being involved in the riots.

As part of damage control exercise, the CM released the book of prominent Sunni Muslim leader Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahali and said that remaining secular in the wake of rabid communal forces raising their heads was fraught with difficulties.

On the occasion, CM Akhilesh Yadav announced Muslims would be given more employment and he would work for promotion of Urdu language. He assured that Urdu would be linked with employment in the state for which he would arrange grant from central schemes. (IPA Service)