Amit Shah defends the indefensible, lauds Delhi Police’s role during northeast Delhi riots

In his reply to the Lok Sabha on widely alleged police inaction during the northeast Delhi riots towards the end of February, Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended Delhi Police which comes under his ministry. “I would like to praise the Delhi police for not allowing the riots to spread to other areas," he said in his reply to the discussion on Delhi riots in the House.

This statement stands in huge contrast to national and international media reports, and many videos and phone call recordings doing the rounds on social media that showed the Delhi Police’s inaction, if not abetment, as rioters ran amok in certain parts of northeast Delhi where people, mostly Muslims, and houses, mostly of Muslims, in specific localities were targeted and attacked. More than 50 people lost their lives as rioters armed with guns, swords, iron rods, and sticks created mayhem. Hundreds of vehicles were charred. Many houses, shops were looted and gutted. Videos showed cops hurling stones too.

The Union Home Minister claimed that more than 300 people from Uttar Pradesh came to Delhi to incite violence and 2,647 people have been arrested or detained so far in the case. "Over 700 FIRs have been registered so far. Analysis of CCTV footage is on," he said.

Amit Shah’s statement that the police probe will not discriminate on basis of religion or clothes sounds a bit hollow as Delhi Police has reportedly been refusing to registers FIRs of those affected by the violence, especially Muslims. To get the compensation announced by the Delhi government, lodging of FIRs is mandatory.

Though Shah said that “I didn't attend events in Delhi during US President Trump's visit as I was sitting with Delhi police to control violence,” that claim falls apart as he was seen greeting Trump at the Motera Stadium at Ahmedabad on February 24 as violence was at its peak.

Putting the blame on the Opposition for incitement to rioters, Amit Shah was curiously silent on BJP leaders repeatedly delivering the ‘Goli Maro’ slogan. In fact, Anurag Thakur, one of the hate slogan preachers, was present in the Lok Sabha while Shah laid the responsibility of incitement to violence on Opposition leaders and specifically the Congress.