Delhi Police contained riot in 36 hrs, says Amit Shah

In this article, senior journalist Krishnanand Tripathi writes about the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's speech which he gave in the Lok Sabha praising Delhi police for containing the riots in the national capital within 36 hours. Shah also informed the house that strong action will be taken against rioters.

New Delhi:Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday praised Delhi police for containing the riots in the national capital within 36 hours, saying that the police were able to contain the riots to just four per cent of the geographical area of the city and just 13% of the population of the city state.

"There are 230 police stations in Delhi, every effort was made to spread the riots to all the stations but police were able to contain the Delhi riots to just 12 police stations," Amit Shah said in the Lok Sabha.

He said that the first call was received by Delhi police at 2 AM on February 24 and the last call was received the police on the night of February 25.

In his reply to a debate in the Lok Sabha, without directly naming the party, Amit Shah blamed Congress for vitiating the environment that led to riots in Delhi last month.

"On December 14, a rally was organised at Ram Leela Maidan in Delhi. The party President called on the people to come out and agitate. Another leader told the people that if they don’t come out now then they will be called cowards," Amit Shah told Lok Sabha members, adding that two days after the rally at Ram Leela ground, the Shaheen Bagh protests in Delhi started.

Shah said that there was a larger conspiracy behind the riots in Delhi and money was provided to people and social media was also used.

"Delhi police have arrested 3 people who received money from Hawala operators for financing riots in the city. Delhi police will soon unearth the conspiracy," he said.

While referring to a larger conspiracy that also involved the use of social media, Shah said that there were 60 social media accounts that were started on February 22 and have been shut on Feb 26.

"What do they think that they will be able to escape just because they have shut the social media accounts? Police will dig them out," home minister told Lok Sabha members.

Referring to a speech by AIMIM leader Waris Pathan, Home Minister said that the plan was to instigate the riots during the US leader’s India visit.

Amit Shah vows strong action against rioters

Union home minister also informed the Lok Sabha that the government has already written a letter to Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court for recommending a judge’s name who will head the claim commission to recover damages from rioters.

"We have video footage of the rioters and 1,100 people have already been identified. We will use scientific methods, latest softwares for face recognition to identify the rioters and not a single person will be spared and money for the damages will be recovered from them," he said.

Shah refuses to give break-up of loss of lives on religious lines

In his reply in the Lok Sabha, Amit Shah refused to give the details of loss of lives and property on religious lines.

"52 Indians have died in these riots, 526 countrymen have been injured. 371 shops and 142 houses have been burnt," he informed the Lok Sabha.

He rejected the demand by some opposition members to give the break- up of the casualties on religious lines.

He further asked, "Will we discuss the loss of lives in this house on religious lines?"