BJP ignores criticism, gives tickets to 2 Muzaffarnagar riots accused

Seems like the BJP has decided to be audacious while countering accusations regarding the party’s involvement in Muzaffarnagar riots.  As if denying that the party was no way involved in sparking the riots or the act of rioting wasn’t enough, BJP went ahead and felicitated two MLAs who were held for rioting. Sangeet Som, who is accused of uploading a video on his Facebook page that sparked the riots was gifted a pagdi and flowers on a stage set for a Narendra Modi rally in Uttar Pradesh. Now the party has taken a step ahead and given tickets to two leaders named in the Muzaffarnagar riots FIRs. [caption id=“attachment_1442641” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Muzaffarnagar riot victims. Reuters.[/caption] The Indian Express reports: “Hukum Singh and Sanjeev Baliyan, declared candidates by the party in the riot-hit areas of Kairana and Muzaffarnagar respectively, were part of a mahapanchayat in September which was held despite prohibitory orders and inflamed tensions."  Singh an MLA from Kairana will now contest the Lok Sabha polls and Rana, a sitting MP from Muzaffarnagar, will contest from the same constituency. Singh and Rana figured in the list of 16 political personalities and community leaders who were accused of sparking violence. Zee News reports that former chief justice of India, Rajinder Sachar has called BJP’s move shameful. “This is shameful and unfortunate. People who have been prosecuted have been put up to fight Lok Sabha elections. This shows the psychology (of the parties),” Sachar said. Read the complete The Indian Express report here.