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Regular-article-logo Saturday, 27 April 2024

Delhi violence: Congress, TMC, AAP stage separate protests during Budget Session

Opposition MPs have also given notice in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to discuss the Delhi riots

PTI New Delhi Published 02.03.20, 06:21 AM
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, Shashi Tharoor and others held placards demanding answers on the Delhi riots and the resignation of home minister Amit Shah.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, Shashi Tharoor and others held placards demanding answers on the Delhi riots and the resignation of home minister Amit Shah. Twitter/@INCIndia

Congress, Trinamul and AAP MPs staged separate dharnas on Monday near the Gandhi statue in Parliament, demanding answers from the government on the Delhi riots on the first day of the second half of the Budget Session.

Covering their eyes with black bands and holding a finger on their lips in an apparent imitation of the Gandhi's Three Monkeys, MPs like Mohua Mitra, Sukhendu Shekhar Rai were part of the protest.

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Trinamul Congress

Trinamul Congress MPs staged a dharna on Monday demanding answers from the government on the Delhi riots near the Gandhi statue in Parliament.

Holding placards and shouting slogans, the MPs said that the issue will be raised very strongly in Parliament.

Covering their eyes with black bands and holding a finger on their lips in an apparent imitation of the Gandhi's Three Monkeys, MPs like Mohua Mitra, Sukhendu Shekhar Rai were part of the protest.

Trinamul Congress MPs stage a dharna near Gandhi statue in Parliament on the first day of the second half of the Budget Session in New Delhi, on Monday, March 2, 2020.

Trinamul Congress MPs stage a dharna near Gandhi statue in Parliament on the first day of the second half of the Budget Session in New Delhi, on Monday, March 2, 2020. Twitter/@AITC_Parliament

Indian National Congress

Congress MPs, including former party chief Rahul Gandhi, held another protest inside the Parliament premises over the issue of communal riots in Delhi and demanded Union home minister Amit Shah's resignation.

Demonstrating in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the Parliament complex, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, Shashi Tharoor and others raised slogans and demanded Shah's resignation.

The Congress MPs held placards reading 'Save Our India', 'Prime Minister Must Answer' and 'Shah Must Resign'.

'When Delhi was burning, our home minister was playing the host in Ahmedabad. Playing a host is fine, but when Indians were being killed, that should have been the priority,' Congress' leader in Lok Sabha Chowdhury said referring to the 'Namaste Trump' programme in which Shah had participated.

'There should be an investigation into the violence. The prime minister speaks after three days, the home minister does not say anything, Ajit Doval is sent to look into it, this is their failure,' he told reporters outside Parliament.

Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and others raise slogans during a protest over Delhi violence, at Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session, in New Delhi, Monday, March 2, 2020

Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and others raise slogans during a protest over Delhi violence, at Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session, in New Delhi, Monday, March 2, 2020 PTI

Speaking to reporters, Tharoor said the Congress wants a debate over what happened in Delhi.

'The home minister has a big responsibility as the law and order is under him. The home minister must resign as he could not fulfil his responsibilities,' he said.

The Congress and other Opposition parties have accused the police of bias and inaction in the Delhi violence.

A Congress delegation, including party chief Sonia Gandhi, had urged President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday to call for the home minister's resignation over his alleged 'abdication of duty' during the communal violence in Delhi and remind the Centre of its 'raj dharma'.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body of the party, had also deliberated on the issue last week and passed a resolution, demanding answers from both the central and Delhi governments, while also urging the people of Delhi to 'reject the politics of hate'.

The Congress president on Friday had deputed a five-member team to visit the riot-affected areas in northeast Delhi and submit a report to her after assessing the situation there.

Congress delegation comprising Kumari Selja, Sushmita Dev, Shaktisinh Gohil and Amarinder Singh visit riot-affected area , at Old Mustafabad area in Northeast Delhi, Saturday, February 29, 2020.

Congress delegation comprising Kumari Selja, Sushmita Dev, Shaktisinh Gohil and Amarinder Singh visit riot-affected area , at Old Mustafabad area in Northeast Delhi, Saturday, February 29, 2020. PTI

Aam Aadmi Party

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs also 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.

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.

Aam Aadmi Party MPs Sanjay Singh, Bhagwant Mann, N. D. Gupta and Sushil Gupta raise slogans during a protest over Delhi violence, at Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session, in New Delhi, Monday, March 2, 2020

Aam Aadmi Party MPs Sanjay Singh, Bhagwant Mann, N. D. Gupta and Sushil Gupta raise slogans during a protest over Delhi violence, at Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session, in New Delhi, Monday, March 2, 2020 PTI

At least 42 people died and more than 200 were injured during the communal riots in northeast Delhi.

Opposition MPs have also given notice in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to discuss the Delhi riots.

Those who gave notice include Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, NK Premachandran (RSP), PK Kunjalikutty (Muslim League), Elamaram Kareem (CPIM), Binoy Vishwam (CPI).

The Budget Session of Parliament commenced on January 31 and continued till February 11. After a break, it commenced on March 2 and will continue till April 3.

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