Amit Shah says Delhi riots appear to be pre-planned as BJP, Opposition spar in Lok Sabha

“We are investigating the Delhi violence on the basis of scientific evidence. Such riots can happen only when there is a pre-planned conspiracy behind it. We are also probing the conspiracy angle. All those who caused the violence will not be able to escape the law,” Amit Shah said.

Amid Opposition criticism over alleged inaction by the Delhi police during last month’s violence, which left over 200 injured and ravaged northeast Delhi areas of Mustafabad, Shiv Vihar, Brijpuri, Jafrabad, Shah complimented the force for not allowing the riots to spiral.

Last month’s violence in northeast Delhi left over 200 injured and ravaged areas of Mustafabad, Shiv Vihar, Brijpuri, Jafrabad. (Express photo)

“Delhi Police contained the rioting within 36 hours. I would like to place on record that after February 25 no incident of rioting took place. There have been attempts to politicise these riots. From February 27 till today, around 700 FIRs have been registered and a total of 2,647 people have been detained or arrested,” the Home Minister said.

“We wanted a discussion on Delhi violence after Holi to avoid a communal flare-up during festival time,” he said.

Burned vehicle and houses at Shiv Vihar in North East in New Delhi. (Express photo)

Humanity was defeated, says Adhir Chowdhury

Initiating the discussion over Delhi violence in the Lok Sabha, which saw vociferous protests by the Opposition over the incident in the last week, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying “Nero fiddled while Rome burned”.

“When Delhi was witnessing violence, Modi was hosting the US President Donald Trump in Ahmedabad,” he said.

Several schools were damaged in the riots. (Photo: Amit Mehra)

Chowdhury said while some claimed Hindus won, the others said Muslims won in the violence. “The fact is that humanity was defeated,” Chowdhury said. Chowdhury also wondered how the riots continued for three days despite the Delhi Police being one of the best equipped in the country.

Questioning the absence of Amit Shah from the violence-hit areas, Chowdhury said the situation came under control soon after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the region.

Burned shops and vehicles after the violence at Chand Bagh in New Delhi. (File)

“Why could not the Home Minister go…NSA reports to the Prime Minister. Does this mean that the Prime Minister’s Office had lost faith in the home ministry,” Chowdhury said.

Countering him, Amit Shah said, “I did not go there myself as I didn’t want the police to divert resources towards my security arrangements.”

Some people taking political benefit out of riots: Meenakshi Lekhi

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi alleged that some people were taking political benefit out of the violence and brought up the killing of IB officer Ankit Sharma, saying 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. Taking on AAP, Lekhi alleged that stones and catapults were found in the house of an AAP councillor and hate speeches were given by an MLA of the party. “Every tenth home had catapults, which were used in the riots,” she said.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi called for an impartial probe to find the perpetrators of the violence. “Do you have any humanity left in you? This is not a question of Hindu or Muslim, but if you will rise up to constitutionality. I pray to you, save the soul of this country,” Owaisi said.