Meenakshi Lekhi says Delhi violence was in making for months

In February, Hindu-Muslim clashes broke out in pockets like Shiv Vihar, Maujpur, and Jafrabad, after a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) turned violent.

The deceased included a head constable and an Intelligence Bureau officer.

While Delhi burnt, the police was accused of laxity. It was reported that the riots could have been averted had they paid attention to intelligence inputs.

When the Parliament resumed on March 2 for the second half of the Budget session, Congress and other opposition parties demanded a discussion on riots.

For days the House was adjourned after parliamentarians created a ruckus. Thereafter, Speaker Om Birla said BJP is ready to discuss after Holi, further enraging parties.

The matter was finally taken up today.

Starting the discussion, Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "Government, especially Home Minister Amit Shah, has to answer how violence continued for three days in Delhi. What was Amit Shah ji doing when Delhi was burning?"

Referring to US President Donald Trump's visit at a time when the violence took over, he commented, "Nero fiddled while Rome burned."

He also lamented that humanity was defeated.

Defending her government, Lekhi listed out the number of riots that happened in Congress' regime.

"Congress was running on the politics of minority vote bank, but have forgotten about Sharjeel Imam and AAP MLA Amanatullah," she said.

Further, she reminded that explosives were found from expelled AAP leader Tahir Hussain's home and said Kapil Mishra, who belongs to her party, shouldn't be blamed.

Giving an emotional touch to her speech, Lekhi said, "People break bones to build houses, and you do not feel sorry to set these houses ablaze."

She said Home Minister Shah did everything in his capacity to contain the violence. He spoke with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, state BJP President Manoj Tiwari, and police.

"BJP controlled the violence in 36 hours," she claimed.

Replying to the opposition's question about Justice S Muralidhar's transfer, Lekhi said, "Intelligence Bureau reports against some people should be made public, so that people know who has been transferred and why."

To recall, a notification about his transfer from Delhi High Court was issued on the same day when he pulled up Delhi Police for turning a blind eye towards violence.