New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) The Opposition parties on Wednesday decided to meet President Ram Nath Kovind to discuss clashes in northeast Delhi which had claimed at least 25 lives and injured 189 people.
Earlier in the day, the Congress sought appointment with the President. General Secretary of CPI(M) Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of CPI D Raja, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav and leaders of DMK and NCP also wrote the President for appointment, preferably on February 28.
"I am writing to you seeking an appointment to hear the views of leaders of various political parties represented in the Indian Parliament, on the very disturbing situation prevailing in the country's capital, Delhi", wrote Mr Yechury.
In a press conference, after the meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC), the Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi demanded Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation for failing to control violence.
Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary D Raja compared Delhi's violence with 2002 Gujarat riots.
Taking on the government, Mr Raja said, "hold none other than Mr Shah solely responsible for unprecedented violence in the national capital and the complacency on the part of Delhi police".
"The situation demands that Supreme Court must act suo motu, order a thorough probe and consider deployment of Army", he added.
Referring to National Security Adviser Ajit Dowal's visit to riot-hit areas, Mr Yechury asked, if NSA is supposed to be in charge of Delhi Police, then what is the role Home Minister?
Pointing out to the apex court's observation that the Delhi police has lack of independence and professionalism, the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) said that the failure of the police is 'so glaring'.
"The Delhi High Court too expressed its disapproval. The Central Home Ministry is directly responsible for the Delhi police. Home Minister Amit Shah, has sought to evade the nature of the planned violence by calling it spontaneous", the PB said in a separate statement.
"There is nothing spontaneous about the violence. On Sunday, February 23, a local BJP leader, Kapil Mishra, made a provocative speech in the presence of a senior police officer at Jaffarabad, threatening to remove anti-CAA protestors. Yet, the police was unprepared to meet the situation", it added.
The PB demanded that adequate compensation be paid to the families of all those who have lost their lives and compensation should be provided to those injured too.
UNI KNA PS 2055