It’s distressing enough to learn that the Uttar Pradesh governor has paved the way for withdrawing a 22-year-old case against chief minister Yogi Adityanath and 12 others while clearing eight Assembly bills, including one to quash 22,000 cases registered across the state that are said to be politically motivated. Emboldened by such a step, ostensibly to drop a few possible false and unjustified cases against politicians, mostly from the Opposition, the Yogi government is going a step further by withdrawing the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riot cases. It is said to have sought the magistrate’s opinion on whether scrapping the cases would be in the public interest. These cases aren’t just against the CM, but other leaders like the BJP’s Umesh Malik too.
While the withdrawal of a sensitive case involving hate speeches that may have triggered communal riots in the wake of a total breakdown of law and order may suit the chief minister and other accused, such a move undermines the very process of law. Several deaths took place in that fearful incidence of communal riots and many were injured while others lived in the affected areas in fear. If such withdrawal of cases were to become the norm every time there’s a change of government, the very foundations of society may be shaken. The brazenness with which poll victors go about clearing themselves on the excuse that they were subjected to political witch hunts while in Opposition is appalling. All serious criminal cases must be pursued until a proper verdict is reached, and UP can’t be allowed to set such a precedent as in the Muzaffarnagar riots case.
