Delhi Violence Is State-Sponsored Genocide: Mamata Banerjee's Scathing Attack Against BJP

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged the communal violence in Delhi was "state-sponsored genocide" and the BJP was trying to replicate the "Gujarat model of riots" across the country. Addressing a TMC event, Banerjee also condemned those who raised the controversial "goli maro..." slogan while heading to Home Minister Amit Shah's rally in the city on Sunday. "I am deeply pained by the killing of innocent people in Delhi. I think it was genocide... the violence in Delhi was state-sponsored," she said. Banerjee claimed it was due to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that "so many people were killed" in the Delhi violence. "Amit Shah should keep this in mind". She said the BJP should apologise for the Delhi riots. "The BJP is trying to replicate the Gujarat model of riots across India, including in West Bengal," the chief minister added.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs on Monday staged a protest inside the Parliament complex over the issue of communal riots in Delhi and demanded a probe by a Supreme Court or high court judge into the last week violence. At least 42 people were killed and over 200 injured in violence in northeast Delhi. AAP MPs Sanjay Singh, Bhagwant Mann, N D Gupta and Sushil Gupta staged the protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex. They raised slogans like "BJP Murdabad"."We want a probe by a sitting high court or Supreme Court judge. A joint parliamentary committee must be made to look into the violence," Singh said.

"Why is it not being discussed in Parliament who is responsible for the riots. Delhi was set on fire by BJP leaders like Kapil Mishra, Pravesh Verma and Anurag Thakur who gave inflammatory speeches. There is no law and order in Delhi," he said. Singh said the leaders who were involved in spreading hate must be subjected to a narco analysis test and the results should be publicised to the entire country. The AAP MP has also given a 'Suspension of Business Notice' in the Rajya Sabha over the violence.

The death count in the communal violence that flared up in Delhi on February 24 continues to rise. On Monday, the number of casualties rose to 47. According to news agency ANI, 38 deaths were confirmed at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, three at the Lok Nayak Hospital, one at Jag Parvesh Chander Hospital and 4 at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. There are reports that several bodies that have still not been recovered from the drains and torched houses. Hence, the total death count may go up significantly. After 72 hours of utter mayhem and total collapse, there have been no incidents of fresh violence or arson from the area.