Congress to strongly raise Delhi riots in Parliament, demand HM Shah's resignation

Congress will strongly raise issue of communal riots in Delhi during second part of Budget Session in Parliament starting on Monday and demand Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation over alleged police lapses. Congress is likely to submit adjournment motion tices in both Houses of Parliament on Monday, demanding a debate over violence in Delhi, sources said.

Congress' leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said party will strongly raise issue of riot-torn Delhi and ask why violence happened. 

" government has miserably failed to maintain law and order. I think re must be some sort of a nexus between rioters and a section of police officials which resulted in gruesome killings and arson that has tarnished our im across globe. This is a matter of serious concern for us," he told PTI.

"We will continue to raise demand of Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation on floor of House," Chowdhury said.

Congress' senior spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi also said Congress will take up in Parliament in strongest possible terms "wanton destruction of democratic values" in this country with "active approbation" and, frequently, selective "Nelsonian blind eye" of government. 

" manner and form of protest inside or out of Parliament is a matter of coordinated strategy and t an issue to be publicly aired. But country is assured that we will discharge our responsibilities vigorously and without fear, despite extreme and illegal intrusion and harassment," he told PTI.

Congress and or opposition parties have accused police of bias and inaction in Delhi violence. A Congress delegation, including party chief Sonia Gandhi, urged President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday to call for Home Minister Shah's resignation over his alleged "abdication of duty" during communal violence in Delhi and remind Centre of its "raj dharma".

Congress Working Committee (CWC), highest decision-making body of party, had also deliberated on issue last week and passed a resolution, demanding answers from both central and Delhi governments, while also urging people of Delhi to "reject politics of hate".

Congress president on Friday had deputed a five-member team to visit riot-affected areas in rast Delhi and submit a report to her after assessing situation re. delegation comprised All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Mukul Wasnik, AICC in-charge for Delhi Shaktisinh Gohil, Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja, former MP Tariq Anwar and Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev.

At least 42 people have been killed and over 200 injured in communal riots that broke out in rast Delhi on Monday after clashes between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control. Budget Session of Parliament commenced on January 31 and continued till February 11. After a break, it will again commence on March 2 and continue till April 3.