Riots a well-thought-out conspiracy: Home Minister

On March 11-12, Home Minister Amit Shah finally spoke on the Delhi riots in February 24-25, that almost coincided with US President Donald Trump’s visit, saying that 52 Indians died, “won’t say Hindu-Muslim”. He said over 2600 people had been detained or arrested for the violence and exemplary action would be taken against the guilty. Here are key takeaways from his speech:

- I don’t believe in Hindu-Muslim. 52 Indians have been killed in Delhi riots. Will we divide this parliament on the basis of religion?

- We have received thousands of videos from the people. We are using face identification to find the accused. It is a software so it does not differentiate on the basis of religion. I would like to place on record that after 25 February no incident of rioting took place. There have been attempts to politicise these riots.

- 76% people who have died in riots in India died during Congress rule. People say the home minister didn’t appeal for peace. I did, but even if had not done that, I didn’t say the earth shakes when a big tree falls; 3000 Sikh brothers, sisters were burnt alive, and you say earth shakes when a big tree falls (reference to former PM Rajiv Gandhi who said this after the anti-Sikh riots in 1984 following his mother, Indira Gandhi’s assassination, by her Sikh bodyguards)

- During President Donald Trump’s visit, I didn’t go to The Taj Mahal. I did not go when Trump visited Rashtrapati Bhavan; didn’t go to lunch or dinner when the clashes were taking place. I was monitoring the situation with Delhi Police. I had requested (NSA) Ajit Doval to go there and boost the morale of the police. I didn’t go because if I had gone there, the police would have been busy with my security.

- We have formed 40 teams to arrest 1,100 people who have been identified using face recognition software. Narendra Modi government will not spare those who have taken part in the riots. We have also registered a conspiracy case, because such riots cannot take place without underlying force.

- We passed the Citizenship Bill democratically after proper discussion. Which clause in CAA talks about revoking citizenship? There is no provision of taking citizenship back; it has provisions of giving persecuted people citizenship of India

- There have been more rallies in support of citizenship law more than those against. Wrong information is given that riots took place when pro-CAA people hit the street.

- I know 25 religion-based laws, Muslim personal law, what is the basis of that? It is wrong to say this is the first law on the basis of religion.