Amit Shah Must Resign Over His Failure To Control Delhi Violence: Sonia Gandhi After CWC's Emergency Meet

Union Home Minister Amit Shah must resign over his failure to control the violence in North-East Delhi that has claimed 20 lives, interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said after the emergency CWC meet on Wednesday. Addressing media after the Congress Working Committee’s meet, Gandhi blamed the Centre for the grim, riot-like clashes in the areas of Maujpur, Jaffrabad, Bhajanpura, Gokulpuri among others. “The situation in Delhi is very tense,” Gandhi said. “Where was Amit Shah and what was he doing while Delhi was burning,” Gandhi asked. She also posed tough questions for Delhi Chief Minster. “Where was Arvind Kejriwal,” asked the interim Congress chief demanding an answer from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government.

She said that it was a well-planned conspiracy to disturb the communal harmony in the National Capital. Without taking Kapil Mishra’s name, Gandhi also said that the BJP leaders were seen openly making threatful, communal remarks just before the violence erupted. In an unprecedented press conference addressed by Gandhi, the Congress leadership also demanded answers from the intelligence agencies.

“Delhi Chief Minister and his government are equally responsible for not activating the administration to reach out to the people to maintain peace and harmony. It is the collective failure of both governments that have resulted in a great tragedy in the capital city,” Gandhi said. She also said that “Delhi Chief Minister must be visible in affected areas and in constant communication with people.” On the protest march by the Congress, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that, “Congress was to hold a march and give a memorandum to President today but he communicated that he is unavailable and has given us time tomorrow. Upholding the respect for his high office, we have deferred the march for tomorrow.”

The press conference came after the CWC meet, where a resolution was adopted for demanding Shah’s resignation. “It is the collective failure of the two governments that have resulted in a great tragedy in the capital city which threatens to become worse by the day,” the CWC said in its resolution.

“The tragic events since last Sunday have a history, design and a pattern. It was evident even during the Delhi elections. Several leaders of the BJP made inflammatory statements clearly intended to create an atmosphere of fear and hate. The last of these statements was made on Sunday, when a BJP leader gave an ultimatum of three days to the Delhi police and warned that ‘after three days don’t tell us anything’,” the resolution further said. 

(With agency inputs)