Deploy army in riot-hit areas, Delhi CM urges Centre
Senior AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Gopal Rai also urged the Centre to deploy the Army in the violence-hit northeast Delhi.
New Delhi: After being flayed for his lukewarm response to the three days of communal flare-up in the national capital, and on a day when his house was “gehraoed” by students from Jamia Milia and JNU — chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday woke up from the slumber by demanding deployment of the Army in the riots affected areas. The demand for Army deployment came just a day after AAP legislator Atishi had asked why Army had not been called in?
Mr Kejriwal on Wednesday said the Army should be called in as police is unable to control the situation despite all its efforts following the violence in parts of northeast Delhi. The chief minister said the situation has become alarming, adding that he is writing to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “I have been in touch with large no. Of people whole nite (night). Situation alarming. Police, despite all its efforts, unable to control situation and instil confidence (sic),” Kejriwal tweeted.
“Army shud (should) be called in and curfew imposed in rest of affected areas immediately. Am writing to Hon’ble HM to this effect,” he added.
Yesterday, Ms Atishi tweeted: “Violence and arson has been continuing for 48 hours now. Police, civilians, Hindus, Muslims are injured in large numbers. At least 10 people have died. If police is unable to maintain law and order, why is AmitShah not imposing curfew? Why is the army not being called in? “
Senior AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Gopal Rai also urged the Centre to deploy the Army in the violence-hit northeast Delhi to bring the situation under control and and asked why the borders areas were not sealed despite repeated requests by Chief Minister Mr Kejriwal.
Claiming that the AAP government is doing everything it can to bring the situation under control, Mr Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah cannot hold meetings just for formality. “Wake up Home Minister, you are calling meetings just as a formality and what are your party members doing. They are inciting violence. Just taking meetings as a formality is not going to solve anything,” he said.