Delhi Violence: Sonia Asks Shah to Resign; 'Laughable,' Says BJP

“There is a conspiracy behind the violence, country also saw this during Delhi elections,” Sonia Said.

Sonia Gandhi. 

(Photo: PTI)

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, 26 February demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for ‘failing to maintan law and order’ in Delhi and held the central government responsible for the violent unrest in the national capital over the Citienship Amendment Act (CAA).

“There is a conspiracy behind the violence, country also saw this during Delhi elections. Many BJP leaders made inciting comments creating an atmosphere of fear and hatred,” she said while addressing the media.

"After reviewing the situation, the CWC is of the firm opinion that what has happened in Delhi is a colossal failure of duty for which the entire responsibility must be borne by the Central Government and particularly the Home Minister and calls upon the Home Minister to tender his resignation immediately."

Sonia Gandhi, reading out the CWC resolution

Gandhi also slammed the BJP for allegedly giving a free hand to its leaders for delivering hate speeches. NCP MP Supriya Sule too demanded Shah's resignation. "The Centre should be held responsible for what has happened in Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah must resign, owning moral responsibility," Sule said, as per PTI.

Delhi Government Equally Responsible, Says Sonia Gandhi

“CM (Arvind Kejriwal) and the Delhi government is equally responsible for not activating the administration to reach out to the people to maintain peace and harmony. It is the collective failure of both governments that have resulted in a great tragedy in the capital city,” she said.

Earlier, the Congress declared that party leaders will march to Rashtrapati Bhavan to seek normalcy and peace in violence-hit Delhi on Thursday.

This was decided in its working committee meeting on Wednesday.

Earlier, the Congress had said that they will hold the march to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday itself and will also submit a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind.

“Congress was to hold a march and give a memorandum to President today but he communicated that he is unavailable and has given us time tomorrow. Upholding the respect for his high office, we have deferred the march for tomorrow,” Congress’ national spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

The death toll in the communal violence in northeast Delhi rose to 20, according to GTB Hospital authorities.

BJP Leaders React, Say Politicising the Violence Is Dirty Politics

The BJP on Wednesday called the demand for Amit Shah's resignation as "laughable". Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar reacted to the speech, saying that Shah was working along with the police in order to control the situation.

"Violence is ending. Investigation is on to find out the truth and identify culprits. No accused will be left out. At such a time, attacking government and politicising violence is dirty politics," he said, as per PTI.

"This is a time to maintain peace. Sonia Gandhi's statement is not warranted," Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also commented on the Congress leader's statements.