Vowing not to spare anyone involved in the Delhi violence irrespective of their religion, caste or party affiliation, Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said in Lok Sabha it will be a lesson for the country on what befalls those who indulge in rioting.
Replyingto a discussion in the lower house on the Delhi riots, Shah said prima faciethe violence appears to be a pre-planned conspiracy.
Despiteopposition’s criticism over alleged inaction by the Delhi Police during theviolence last month, Shah appreciated the police for not allowing the riots tospiral.
Complimentingthe Delhi Police for controlling the riots within 36 hours, Shah said itsactions ensured that the violence was “limited to a geographicalarea” and did not spread.
He saidthat a total of 2,647 people have been detained or arrested in these riots”which prima facie is a pre-planned conspiracy”.
About700 FIRs were filed, 152 weapons used in violence seized so far and 49 caseslodged under Arms Act, he informed the House.
Acase of conspiracy was filed after looking at how the riots spread in such ashort span of time, Shah said, adding that more than 300 people apparently camefrom Uttar Pradesh.
Expressinggrief over the loss of lives and conveying his condolences to the bereavedfamilies, Shah said he wants to assure them that no one who was involved in theriots will be spared.
“Wewill spare no one irrespective of their religion, caste and politicalaffiliation. Such action will be taken that it will be lesson for the countryon what befalls those who indulge in rioting,” he said.
Heassured the House that CCTV footage is being analysed using face identificationsoftware, and took a dig at the opposition, saying that the software does notdiscriminate on the basis of religion or clothes.
Hesaid details of voter identity cards and driving licences were fed into thesoftware which helped identify 1,100 people.
Respondingto the opposition’s criticism on not visiting riot-affected areas, Shah said hedidn’t want to divert the attention of Delhi police at such a sensitive time.
“Idid not go to the ground because I did not want the police to get distractedand divert their resources for my security,” he said.
Shahalso said he didn’t attend various events related US President Donald Trump’svisit to Delhi as he was busy with Delhi police in formulating strategy tocontrol the violence.
Thoughhe attended President Trump’s event at Motera stadium in Ahmedabad, as it waspreplanned and it was in his constituency.
Shah said it was on his request that NationalSecurity Advisor Ajit Doval visited the riot-affected areas to raise morale ofthe Delhi police.
Takingon the opposition, Shah said the government wanted a discussion on the Delhiviolence in parliament after Holi to avoid communal flare up during festivaltime, but some have other priorities.
Givingdetails of the casualties due to riots, Shah said, “52 Indians lost theirlives during the violence”.
Unlikethe opposition, Shah said he doesn’t want to name how many Hindus or Muslimsdied.
“Iwon’t give figures in ‘Hindu-Muslim’. 52 Indians have died, 526 Indians havebeen injured. Shops of 371 Indians were set ablaze and houses of 142 Indianswere burned,” he said.
WhileShah was speaking, the Congress walked out in protest.
ParliamentaryAffairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said the opposition party earlier demanded adebate on the issue and now it was walking out, which showed it was not seriouson the issue of Delhi violence.
Withoutmentioning Congress, Shah said an opposition leader at a party rally onFebruary 24 gave the call for “aar paar ki ladai” and asked wasn’t ita hate speech.
Hewas apparently referring to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Healso attacked AIMIM Assadudin Owaisi for his party leader Waris Pathan’s controversialremarks at a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Stronglydefending CAA, he said there were more than 25 laws drafted on the basis ofreligion, while CAA doesn’t discriminate with anyone.
Healso said that 76 per cent of riot related deaths so far have been under theCongress rule and the party had “no moral right to question us”.Hecited the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the controversial statement made by aCongress leader to attack the opposition party.