Amid the violence in North-East Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-profile meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lt Governor Anil Baijal and other political leaders in the National Capital on Tuesday. Kejriwal termed the meeting as constructive and positive. Addressing the media after the meet, Kejriwal said that the “Home Minister assured us of adequate police force.” He also said that violence must be stopped. Kejriwal further said that the need of the hour is to go beyond political divide to restore normalcy in North-East Delhi. Apart from Kejriwal and Baijal, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, Congress leader Subhash Chopra, BJP leaders Manoj Tiwari and Ramvir Singh Bidhuri also attended the meeting.
Home Ministry sources told News Nation that several crucial decisions in the high-profile meet. The ministry officials are keeping a strict vigil on people spreading communal rumours on the social media. Sources said that new efforts will be taken to ensure better coordination between the local MLA and the police. Sources said that police have been told to work according to the input provided by public leaders. Electronic surveillance and drones will monitor the riot-hit sites in the area. Additional police and paramilitary forces will be deployed in the area. Rumour-mongers will be detained, sources said.
A head constable was among seven people killed and over 100 others, including several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, were injured as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi, turning it into a battlefield on Monday with frenzied protesters torching houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, and hurling stones. The violence continued on Tuesday also. Meanwhile, rioters damaged two fire tenders in Gokulpuri in northeast Delhi, fire officials said on Tuesday as violence continued unabated in the area.
Meanwhile, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday alleged that the violence in Delhi over the amended Citizenship law has been perpetrated intentionally and the Narendra Modi government would not tolerate such incidents. He also expressed concern over the violence during US President Donald Trump's visit to the country. The Minister of State for Home said resorting to arson and rioting in the name of anti-CAA protests was "totally wrong." "I warn those behind the violence... The Narendra Modi government has zero tolerance towards it. Our government will take necessary stern action against those involved in arson and violence. Our government will not tolerate any form of violence," Reddy told reporters in Hyderabad.
He claimed that the law and order situation in the national capital was under control because the Delhi police was working with responsibility. Alleging that the violence in Delhi was perpetrated intentionally, he said, "the Centre has been patient. We know people will understand that there is nothing in the CAA that is against 130 crore Indians. It is neither against Pakistan nor Bangladesh or even against any religion or region."
(With PTI inputs)