On Shah's cue, Thakur says Shaheen Bagh will be cleared after Delhi polls

Taking a cue from his political master and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister of State Anurag Thakur on Tuesday (February 4) asserted that the process of clearing Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of anti-CAA protest, will begin once the BJP ‘comes to power’ after the February 8 Assembly polls.

The statement comes days after Thakur was banned by the Election Commission for 72 hours from campaigning after he made a ‘shoot the traitors comment’ at a poll rally. Thakur also accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia of backing the Shaheen Bagh protesters.

Also read | Delhi polls: BJP focuses on Shaheen Bagh, AAP stands by development

“When people of Delhi will cast their vote in favour of the lotus (BJP’s poll symbol) and after the results on February 11, Shaheen Bagh (protest site) will be cleared,” Thakur said at an event held at BJP office.

The BJP has been vitriolic in its statements against CAA protestors. The party was forced to withdraw Anurag Thakur and MP Parvesh Verma from campaigning after the EC diktat. But political observers pointed out that the party was backing them as Parvesh Verma was the face of the party in Parliament at the opening of the Budget session.

(With inputs from agencies)

Also read | Barbs fly, speeches get shriller ahead of Delhi Assembly polls