Speakers at meet blame BJP leaders for Delhi riots
Mumbai: Representatives of various communities on Thursday blamed a clutch of BJP leaders, including Union minister Anurag Thakur, for the communal riots in Delhi where 34 people have died till now.
They gathered here to condemn the communal violence in the national capital over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and seek action against the culprits.
The representatives, who announced formation of an alliance against CAA-NRC-NPR, said besides Thakur, Delhi BJP leaders like Kapil Mishra and Parvesh Verma were responsible for the mayhem.
All three BJP leaders have been accused of giving hate speeches.
The Delhi police failed in their task of controlling the riots and remained a mute spectator when armed gangs were killing people and setting properties on fire, speakers at the meeting said.
Advocate Rakesh Rathod, a representative of the Vanjara community, said, "The people of Delhi ignored hate and voted for the Aam Aadmi Party in the name of development (in just held polls).
"The Sangh parivar could not accept this and as a result Delhi is burning in the fire of hate. We demand that top police officials be suspended and tried in court."
Sachin Kamble of the Sambhaji Brigade, a Maratha organisation, demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the wake of the Delhi riots.
"The campaign against CAA-NRC-NPR did not cause any harm to anybody. But as soon as pro-CAA agitations began, they resulted in riots in Delhi.
"The country is being run on the RSS's Constitution of 'Manu Smriti'. We condemn the attack on religious places," Kamble said.
Islamic scholar Maulana Ejaz Kashmiri said, "The Delhi riots are a form of terrorism and rioters are terrorists. If the country is to develop, riots need to end.
Ravi Kumar Stephen, a Christian priest, expressed solidarity with the riot victims.
"We stand with the victims of the Delhi violence. We condemn this violence. The attack on places of worship and properties of minorities is tragic," Stephen said.
After the event, a delegation met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and presented him a memorandum containing a list of demands.
The demands included immediate arrest and prosecution of Thakur, Verma and Mishra.
"Action should be taken against the errant police personnel, who, instead of performing their duties, either remained silent spectators or appeared to be helping the rioters. Curfew should be imposed in areas where violence is still on," according to the memorandum.
The police should take action against lawbreakers and perpetrators of the violence, irrespective of their religious and political affiliations, it said, adding a high-level judicial inquiry should be ordered into the riots.
Police protection should be provided to all anti-CAA protests, especially the Shaheen Bagh agitation in Delhi, the memorandum said.
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CM Siddaramaiah meets Neha Hiremath's family, offers condolences
Dharwad (Karnataka), Apr 25: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday visited Neha Hiremath's house and offered condolences to her family members.
Neha Hiremath (23), daughter of Congress councilor of Hubballi-Dharwad Muncipal Corporation Niranjan Hiremath, was stabbed to death on the campus of BVB College on April 18 by her former classmate Fayaz Khondunaik.
CCTV footage showed Fayaz stabbing Neha multiple times before fleeing the spot. He was arrested by police later.
The incident sparked widespread outrage and protests across Karnataka.
Talking to reporters later, the chief minister termed the incident unfortunate.
"Already I have said that I strongly condemn Neha Hiremath's murder. I have assigned the case to the CID for a detailed investigation," Siddaramaiah said.
ALSO READ: My family faces threat from strangers who filmed inside my house: Neha's father
"Along with that we will constitute a special court (to try the case). Special court specifically for this case,
to ensure maximum punishment is given to the accused as per the IPC provision," he added.
On the BJP's demand for a CBI investigation, the chief minister said the BJP is politicising the issue.
"Did the BJP ever give any case to the CBI when they were in power in Karnataka? Show me just one case. During my previous term as chief minister I had assigned many cases to the CBI," Siddaramaiah said.
He declined to discuss political matters, saying he has come here to Dharwad to console the family and offer condolences over Neha Hiremath's death.
"We will be with them (Hiremaths). I pray for her soul to rest in peace," the chief minister said.
On the alleged threat to the family and arresting others involved in the case, the chief minister said the government will provide security to the family and also ordered the CID to investigate the angle regarding the involvement of others in this case.
Speaking on the occasion, Neha's father Niranjan Hiremath thanked Siddaramaiah and state Law Minister H K Patil for quickly responding to the demand and ordering that a special court be set up to try the case and for transferring the probe to the CID.
He said Congress General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala has promised him that justice would be delivered in this case within 90 days, or if it gets delayed then it would not exceed 120 days.
"I demand capital punishment for the accused," Hiremath said.
