Shaheen Bagh Protest: Mani Shankar Aiyar Hurls ‘Kaatil’ Barb, Says Ready For Any Sacrifice

Senior Congress leader Man Shankar Aiyar on Tuesday stoked a fresh controversy during his visit in Shaheen bagh where hundreds of people are protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). While addressing the protestors, Aiyar said, "I am ready to do whatever I can do for all of you. I am making a promise. Whatever support you need from me in a personal capacity, I am ready to provide."

The leader also made thinly veiled reference to the government, equating it to killers. "I am ready to make whatever sacrifice is needed. Now let's see whose hands are stronger -- ours or those killers," he said.

#WATCH Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar at the protest against #CAA & #NRC, in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh: Jo bhi qurbaniyan deni hon, usme main bhi shaamil hone ke liye tayaar hun. Ab dekhein ki kiska hath mazboot hai, hamara ya uss kaatil ka? pic.twitter.com/ojV4QU9dMs

— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2020

Mani Shankar Aiyar is the second big leader from the Congress to visit Shaheen Bagh. Earlier, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor had visited Jamia, Shaheen Bagh and JNU on Sunday. Tharoor had also addressed the crowd at Shaheen Bagh.

Expressing solidarity with those protesting against the amended citizenship act, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday visited Jamia Millia Islamia and Shaheen Bagh and said that the law was against the ideals of unity espoused by Mahatma Gandhi.

Also Read: Delhi High Court Orders Cops To Manage Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh Blockade In Time-Bound Manner

Tharoor later travelled in metro to reach JNU where he addressed the students and condemned the violence by a masked mob on January 5. He said the December 15 police action against the students in Jamia is a "blot on the nation". After visiting the university, he visited Shaheen Bagh to express solidarity with the protesters.

Terming the Citizenship Amendment Act "discriminatory", Tharoor asserted that it is against the ideals of unity espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. "Whatever happened on December 15 is a blot on nation. Without any provocation, without any intimation to the vice chancellor, they (police) entered hostels and attacked women students. Students studying in library were attacked, which is a 'shame, shame, shame' and not acceptable at all," he told the crowd.

Also Read: Determined Mothers, Unfazed Children And Chants Of 'Azadi': An Evening In Shaheen Bagh

Attacking the act, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said the Centre's step is discriminatory and an effort to marginalise "one community". "That is why we opposed the introduction of the bill in Parliament, as it brought religion in the Citizenship Act for the first time," he said.

Tharoor said he did not want any section of society to be reduced to second class citizens. "We shall stand for the values we cherish and for the humanity, and above all we should stand for Bharat (India)," he added.

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