Azam faults RSS, BJP blames ISI

LUCKNOW: The Bharatiya Janata Party and Samajwadi Party hurled accusations at each other over Saharanpur riots with the top SP leader and its Muslim face Azam Khan alleging it was the handiwork of the RSS whereas BJP leader Kalraj Mishra claimed Pakistan's ISI was behind the flare-up in which two people were killed and scores injured. Kalraj cited Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's campaign speech in which he had spoken about an IB agent telling him the ISI was active during Muzaffarnagar riots.

Azam alleged that "plans to endanger peace in UP were being worked on in Nagpur" - the headquarters of the RSS. "In Nagpur, research work is underway to try and scuttle the successful governance of the Samajwadi Party and its pro-people policies," Azam said.

"A bicycle hitting another bicycle. On the two cycles, there were persons from different communities and an altercation ensued. How can this be called intelligence failure?" Azam told reporters in Rampur on Sunday.

Kalraj said it was worrisome that attacks from a particular community had increased in West UP. He alleged the way the people of a particular community were being targeted suggested ISI backing. "Even Rahul Gandhi made a similar observation during Muzaffarnagar riots. A home ministry report too had confirmed ISI modules in Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Meerut and other West UP districts," Mishra said.

Sources said home minister Rajnath Singh met PM Narendra Modi and briefed him about the situation in violence-hit Saharanpur. During the 30-minute discussion, Singh briefed Modi about the situation in the West UP town and the action being taken to maintain peace, they added. Singh said he told the PM he is personally monitoring the situation and asked CM Akhilesh Yadav to take all steps to control the violence.

The home ministry has sent 600 paramilitary personnel to assist the government.

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