NEW DELHI: For all its alleged positioning for the 2014 polls, the Samajwadi Party (SP) seems be losing its support among Muslims in the wake of UP riots . Leaders of various Muslim organizations like Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH), All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), All India Muslim Majlise Mushwarat (AIMMM), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Jamiat Ahle Hadith Hind on Tuesday demanded the dismissal of Samajwadi Party’s (SP) government in Uttar Pradesh for its failure to quell the riots in the state.

They alleged that the SP is in cahoots with rioters and along with the BJP is communalizing the atmosphere in the state for gains in 2014 polls. They claimed that Muslims have lost confidence in the ruling party as it is playing a 'fixed match' with the BJP.

Leaders of over half a dozen different Muslim organizations on Tuesday came together here to issue a joint statement, indicting the SP government in connection with communal violence in UP that has claimed over 35 lives till now. The confluence of so many influential minority organizations against Akhilesh Yadav ’s government is a worrying sign for the SP as the Muslims have been a traditional vote bank of the party and played a major role in its landslide victory in last year’s assembly elections.

JUH general secretary Mahmoud Madani on Tuesday said, “An attempt to flare up communal tensions in the state has been going on for months but the government, despite knowing this, did not take any action to prevent the riots. There has been a planned aggression in the villages and till now no steps have been taken to stop riots in rural areas. We demand dismissal of UP government.”

Dr Zafarul Islam of AIMMM went a step further suggesting that communal atmosphere has been vitiated ever since the Akhilesh Yadav-led government came to power in UP. “There have been 200 incidents of communal violence since this government has been in power. In the present case, the situation has been tense since August 27. Still, three mahapanchayats were allowed to be held. The Army has been deployed but not a single bullet has been fired. The police are mute spectators. This government has lost the moral right to continue in power. It is in cahoots with RSS and VHP.”

Dr Islam also blamed the Centre for its apathy. “We have been trying to meet the PM for the past several days but he has no time.”

Dr S Q R Ilyas of AIMPLB said that the riots reflected a conspiracy with an eye on 2014 elections. “The SP should understand that it has lost the confidence of the Muslims. There should be President’s rule in UP and officials responsible for the riots should be prosecuted and not just transferred,” Ilyas said.

Leaders also demanded that the central government pass the communal violence bill before the elections and give it the same priority as it did to the food bill.

