Results of Muzaffarnagar urban local body polls hint at social reconciliation
The Hindu
The success of Muslim candidates who recently emerged victorious in six out of the 10 seats for chairpersons of urban local bodies in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh hints at a social reconciliation in the district that witnessed large-scale Hindu-Muslim riots in 2013. In the previous local body polls held in 2017, Muslim candidates got only two chairperson seats.
The success of Muslim candidates who recently emerged victorious in six out of the 10 seats for chairpersons of urban local bodies in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh hints at a social reconciliation in the district that witnessed large-scale Hindu-Muslim riots in 2013. In the previous local body polls held in 2017, Muslim candidates got only two chairperson seats.
Muzaffarnagar district has two Nagar Palika Parishads — Khatauli and Muzaffarnagar — and eight Nagar Panchayats — Meerapur, Purkazi, Sisauli, Bhokerhedi, Charthawal, Budhana, Shahpur and Jansath. Muslim candidates won in Khatauli Nagar Palika Parishad and in Charthawal, Purkazi, Meerapur, Jansath and Shahpur Nagar Panchayats.
In Khatauli Nagar Palika Parishad, the SP-RLD alliance nominee, Hazi Shahnawaz won the seat of the Chair, while in Jansath Nagar Panchayat, Aabid won. In the Charthawal, Purkazi and Meerapur Nagar Panchayats, Independent Muslim candidates won.
Leaders of the SP-RLD (Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal) and the winning candidates said the results indicate that the communal divide created by the 2013 riots have ended and harmony between the two communities have strengthened in the district.
“The results delivered by Muzaffarnagar is against the divisive and communal politics of hate. Both Hindus and Muslims stood against communal forces. It’s not only Muslim candidates winning six out of 10 chairmen seats, it’s also that in Budhana Nagar Panchayat, the SP-RLD candidate Uma Tyagi got huge support from Muslim voters and won, signifying the revival of Hindu-Muslim unity,” said RLD national general secretary Trilok Tyagi, who campaigned extensively in Muzaffarnagar.
In the previous local body polls, Muslim candidates won the posts of chair in Meerapur and Purkazi.
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