Opposition questions govt on Delhi riots, BJP blames anti-CAA protests

New Delhi: The Opposition and the ruling BJP sparred over the Delhi riots during a charged discussion in the Lok Sabha which saw both sides pinning the blame on the other for instigating the violence.

While Congress, Trinamool Congress and AIMIM were strident in their demand for resignation of home minister Amit Shah and a judicial inquiry under a sitting Supreme Court judge, other parties including NDA allies Janata Dal (United) and BJD struck a more sombre note asking for generous compensation for riot victims.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury opened the discussion and questioned the government’s “inaction” and the reason for allowing Delhi to burn for three days without doing enough to control the violence. Chowdhury compared home minister Amit Shah with Emperor Nero and said, “When Rome was burning, Nero was playing the fiddle. He sat on a hillock watching the city burn as he wanted to build a palace of gold.

When Delhi was burning, our Nero went with a flute to Gujarat to host President Trump.

Our home minister needs to answer where he was for three days.”Chowdhury termed the Delhi riots “organised violence” and compared the carnage with Nazir Shah’s reign. “Legend has it that Nazir Shah allowed a carnage in Delhi for three days and said he would use his sword only after three days. I am not saying that you have the same DNA ––Nazir Shah or Amit Shah –– but what was your responsibility,” he asked. The Congress MP also drew a connection between the BJP’s performance in the Delhi elections and the riot-hit areas. “It is clear that (in places) where riots broke out, the BJP had not done well in the assembly elections. This had been simmering,” Chowdhury said and demanded the resignation of Shah and the immediate filing of FIRs against the guilty.

Meanwhile, BJP’s Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi’s remarks on attacks against schools belonging to different communities was expunged by Speaker Om Birla. He asked Lekhi to refrain from naming a person or religious community or caste. Lekhi justified BJP leader Kapil Mishra’s speech and said, “It all began with the Anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests.” Blaming Congress president Sonia Gandhi, son Rahul and daughter Priyanka for instigating people in a rally in December 2019, Lekhi accused the Congress of making inflammatory speeches and misleading people. Lekhi alleged that some people are taking political benefit out of the incidents of violence. Referring to the killing of IB officer Ankit Sharma during the riots, she said 400 wounds were found on his body. “What kind of hatred was this... we should discuss that also,” she said, adding the riots were pre-planned. The Opposition MPs demanded an independent probe and speedy justice for the riot-affected people. Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy demanded Shah’s resignation and said, “You could not stop riots that took place 10 km from the home ministry’s office. How would you control anything in this country? You have no right to continue in office.” Roy, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and BJD’s Pinaki Mishra demanded a judicial inquiry under a sitting Supreme Court judge and generous compensation for the riotaffected people.