Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaking in Lok Sabha on Delhi riots. (File Photo)
Parliament Today Highlights: Replying to a discussion in Lok Sabha on the Delhi riots, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday vowed not to spare anyone involved in the violence, which left over 50 dead and many injured. He also stated that it will be lesson for the country on what befalls those who indulge in rioting.
Facing opposition criticism over alleged inaction by the Delhi police during the violence last month, Shah appreciated the police for not allowing the riots to spiral. While expressing grief over the death of people in the violence, Shah said the Delhi police succeeded in controlling riots within 36 hours.
Shah’s reply came after the opposition in Lok Sabha demanded the resignation of the Home Minister for failing to contain the violence in Delhi for nearly three days, even as the BJP accused the Opposition of politicising the situation to further its narrow interests.
Following Amit Shah's reply in the Lok Sabha on Delhi riots, the House has been adjourned for the day
Amit Shah on Delhi riots: "Everyone who was involved in Delhi violence will not be spared, whichever religion they belong to, whichever region they are from. I assure justice to all riot victims. We have analysed the videos, where Opposition is alleging that police has been involved, but that was in order to calm the situation against rioters who were inciting violence. Police has not been involved to increase tension and I want to commend the job done by Delhi police for bringing the situation under control and not letting it spread to other places."
"What is Muslim Personal Law? How can you say that a law has been made on basis of a religion for the first time? CAA is not biased. On December 14, referring to Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi's speech at Ram Lila Maidan, said hate speech was provoked by the Grand Old Party. On February 19 and 22 also, similar inflammatory speeches have been made, why haven't they been considered as 'hate speeches'?," Amit Shah's reply on Delhi violence in Lok Sabha.
"We are investigating the Delhi violence on the basis of scientific evidence. We have held peace-talks with different communities. Such riots can be spread on communal basis so quickly, only when there is a pre-planned conspiracy behind it, so we have filed a conspiracy-probe angle. All those who caused the violence will not be able to escape the law," says Amit Shah on Delhi violence.
Amit Shah in Lok Sabha: 'The CCTV and video footage are being analysed. At least 700 FIRs have been registered. We have requested citizens to share videos or photos of the violence to help identify rioters which will further be checked through software. 1100 people have been identified until now and nearly 300 people had come from Uttar Pradesh.'
Congress MPs stage a walkout from the Parliament in the middle of Home Minister's speech.
Amit Shah in Lok Sabha on Delhi violence: "The Delhi police has ensured that the violence which broke out in parts of the national capital was restricted to 12 areas, The violence was restricted in 12 areas On 24th February, around 2 pm, we received the first message on violence and it continued till February 25 around 11 pm. So, Delhi police has controlled the violence within 36 hours. The entire time, I was coordinating with Delhi police and the concerned officials at Rashtrapati Bhavan. I had requested the National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to visit the riot-affected areas and take report from the police. I did not go there myself because the police otherwise would have to run behind me to ensure my security."
Home Minister Amit Shah on Delhi riots: "The way Delhi riots have been painted wrongly in front of the world, even today, the way it has been presented in the Parliament in a similar manner, but I want to dismiss a few doubts." Replying to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's question on why the delay in discussion on the matter, Home Minister says, "After February 25th 11 pm, no riot incident took place. The very next day, we said, we will do day after Holi. We made this decision keeping in mind that Holi is a festival to bring communities together and did not want to brew more tension. Our motive was to discuss the matter in the Lok Sabha on March 11 and in the Rajya Sabha on February 12; but there was ruckus."
BJP leader Tejashwi Surya hits out at the Congress in the Lok Sabha over the CAA protests and says, "Congress is engaged in module of riot-engineering. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi called for 'aar-paar ki ladai', and asked people to come out on the streets when she held a dharna at the Ramlila Maidan. The very next day, innocent Muslim women gathered at Shaheen Bagh and began protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which has nothing against Indian Muslims. But in the protests here, all anti-Hindu slogans are being raised. There is nothing anti-Muslim about CAA, but everything anti-Hindu about the anti-CAA protests."
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi launched an attack at the BJP-led Central government against the violence in Delhi over CAA and said that it has "radicalised the Hindus". He further said: "The beatings of riot victims, their pictures, have been used by IS. Do you want Muslims to be radicalised by IS?"
On the Delhi riots matter, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi told the Lok Sabha: "What is my dignity when I see a saffron flag is hoisted on a masjid? What is my dignity when children have become orphaned? 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. What kind of god is my PM if he cannot cry over the violence in Delhi? I pray to you, save the soul of this country."
"We've supported CAA. Women in their mid-80s are sitting in protest at Shaheen Bagh. Perhaps, this is the time to think of including Muslims from countries in this region where they are in a minority. This will give them a feeling that the government cares for them," BJD leader Pinaki Mishra told the Lok Sabha.
As many as 1,487 Indian prisoners are lodged in various jails of Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the External Affairs Ministry said on Wednesday. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said 83 missing Indian defence personnel, including prisoners of war, are believed to be in Pakistan's custody. "The government has consistently taken up the matter with Pakistan. However, so far, Pakistan has not acknowledged the presence of these missing Indian defence personnel in its custody," he said in a written reply.
Invoking Shakespeare's Macbeth, TMC MP Saugata Roy hit out at his BJP counterpart Meenakshi Lekhi and referred to her as the 'Devil's advocate'. He further said, 'She (Lekhi) is an advocate of the Delhi Police, police which showed inaction (during Delhi riots)'.
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day
Replying to the Opposition for raising the matter of Justice Muralidhar's transfer, BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi says, "Intelligence Bureau reports against some people should be made public, so that people know who has been transferred and why." The transfer order of Delhi High Court judge Justice Muralidhar had drawn sharp political reactions, as he was issued the order, on the night of February 26— the day when he had pulled up Delhi Police for failing to register FIRs against three BJP leaders for their alleged hate speech.
Quoting former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi says, "Bade ped girte hain toh dharti hilti hain (When big trees fall, earth always shakes). Do you expect Home Minister to be present at the place of riots when it is happening? He convened an immediate meeting with the police and security officials from 7 pm to 1 am. He also met NSA Ajit Doval, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BJP Delhi President Manoj Tiwari among others and appealed everyone to ensure peace. BJP controlled the violence in 36 hours."
Defending BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma whose names have been involved for inciting violence in the national capital, BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi said: " Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma were blamed for Delhi violence. Anurag & Verma made comments on Jan 20 & Jan 28 respectively, while the violence started on Feb 23. Kapil Mishra was held responsible for acts of Amanatullah Khan, Sharjeel Imam and Tahir Hussain. Log toot jaate hain ghar banane ko aur tum taras nahi khaate ho bastiyan jalane ko (People break their backs to build houses, and you do not feel sorry to set these houses ablaze). Some people have history of setting things ablaze. I have data which shows who was responsible whenever violence incidents took place in country."
BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi stating the number of riots that happened during the rule of Congress leaders, said: "Congress was running on the politics of minority vote bank, but have forgotten about Sharjeel Imam and AAP MLA Amanatullah. In 2014, that changed and stating data, I want to tell you who was actually responsible for inciting violence and riots earlier."
In a reply to Congress' discussion on Delhi riots, BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi said, "Tahir Hussain who is an AAP leader. From his building, bombs were thrown. Bricks have been hurled at people. Acid was used to attack people. These people are protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Why are they protesting? Cause this government had the courage to grant citizenship to some minorities. People have been inciting violence for a long time, you are now blaming Kapil Mishra and Delhi police for it?"
After initiating the discussion, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Lok Sabha Chowdhury said while some claimed Hindus won, the others said Muslims won in the violence. "The fact is that humanity was defeated," he said adding that he wondered how violence continued for three days despite the fact that Delhi police is one of the best equipped in the country. "The Home Minister (Amit Shah) will have to explain," he asserted. Chowdhury also hit out at the Prime Minister and likened him with Benito Mussolini, and said, "Nero fiddled while Rome burned," as Modi was hosting US President Donald Trump at the time of the violence in the national capital.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raises the topic of Delhi riots and questions what Home Minister Amit Shah was doing during the violence. "Government, especially Home Minister Amit Shah, has to answer how violence continued for three days in Delhi. What was Amit Shah ji doing when Delhi was burning?" the Congress leader asks.
Rajya Sabha was on Wednesday adjourned till 3:10 pm.
Lok Sabha Wednesday passed a motion to revoke the suspension of 7 Congress members from the House with immediate effect
In Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Wednesday said around 6000 Indians, including 1100 from the union territories of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and the state of Maharashtra are stranded in Iran. Out of these, there are 1000 fishermen from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. The region where fishermen are located has not been severely affected by coronavirus. The government's priority is to bring back pilgrims and students first, in areas worst-hit by the disease.
The government Wednesday told the Parliament that over 7000 people have been detained in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August and as many as 396 have been detained under the Public Safety Act(PSA)
A total of 802 people were kept in detention centres in Assam as of March 6, 2020, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said Wednesday in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, news agency ANI reported.
A delegation of Biju Janata Dal Wednesday met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament, news agency ANI reported. MP P Acharya said, "Rs 545 crores of Jagannath temple is deposited in Yes Bank which has put a cap on withdrawal. We sought her intervention for withdrawal of the money from Yes Bank."
Lok Sabha session resumed on Wednesday afternoon. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury discussed the loss of working hours of the House over consecutive adjournments.
Lok Sabha Speaker Wednesday revoked the suspension of seven Congress MPs, who were suspended last week for the remaining period of the Budget Session for "gross misconduct" and "utter disregard" for House rules after they snatched papers from the Speaker Om Prakash Birla's table.
Lok Sabha proceedings were on Wednesday adjourned till 1:30 pm as some Congress members sought to know when the expulsion of seven party MPs will be revoked. The House was earlier adjourned till 12:30 pm as the members raised slogans demanding revocation of the expulsion of its seven MPs.
Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla held an all-party meeting over the smooth functioning of the House on Wednesday, news agency ANI reported
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 1:30 pm on Wednesday.
The recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi is slated to be discussed in the Lok Sabha today. The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is listed to be moved and passed.
A discussion on the communal riots that took place in Delhi in February will take place in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Lok Sabha was Wednesday adjourned till 12:30 pm amid sloganeering by Opposition members
Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm after Opposition uproar over Delhi violence and ban on two Kerala TV channels.