Delhi: Ministers unite to slam violence, appeal for peace

New Delhi: Delhi lieutenant-governor (L-G) Anil Baijal, on Monday, instructed the Delhi police commissioner to maintain law and order in the national capital in the wake of violence during clashes in Northeast Delhi. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also urged the L-G and Union home minister Amit Shah to restore law and order.

“I sincerely urge Hon’ble L-G n Hon’ble Union home minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations (sic),” Mr Kejriwal tweeted.

Delhi L-G and chief minister and several AAP leaders also appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony. The L-G instructed Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik to maintain law and order in the city.

“Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in Northeast Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony,” Mr Baijal tweeted.

In another tweet, CM Kejriwal said he has spoken to the L-G who assured that more police personnel are being sent to the affected areas.

“The violence today in Delhi is disturbing & must be unequivocally condemned. Peaceful protests are a sign of a healthy democracy, but violence can never be justified. I urge the citizens of Delhi to show restraint, compassion & understanding no matter what the provocation,” said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in a tweet.

Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said violence will not be tolerated.

“I just spoke to the L-G. He has assured that more police forces are being sent. Violence will not be tolerated by anyone. I request people to maintain peace. No solution will come out of violence,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted.

The clashes took place hours before US President Donald Trump arrived in the city, and seemed to be a fallout of Sunday's violence that broke out after local BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who has a history of making communal and incendiary comments, held a pro-CAA rally in Maujpur, near Jaffrabad where a protest has been on since Saturday night against the citizenship law.

Meanwhile, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia condemned the violence and appealed to the people to maintain peace.

“Appeal to all Delhiites to maintain peace. Violence results in loss for everyone. The flames of violence hurt everyone in a way that it can never be compensated,” Mr Sisodia said in a tweet.

Delhi minister and Babarpur MLA Gopal Rai also urged the people in the area to maintain peace in the wake of clashes over the new citizenship law, saying some people were purposely trying to disturb the atmosphere.

“With folded hands I request people in Babarpur Assembly to maintain peace,” Mr Rai said in a tweet.