People pay price of insensitive leaders in power, says Chidambaram

Condemning the violence in Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), senior Congress leader P Chidambaram and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday (February 25) urged the Centre to take steps to bring the situation under control.

Chidambaram went a step ahead and said that people are paying the price for putting in power “insensitive and shortsighted” leaders.

Related news: Death toll in Delhi over CAA violence rises to 7; RAF, cops on high alert

He said the amendment to the CAA should be abandoned forthwith and the government should listen to the voices of the anti-CAA protesters by keeping the CAA in abeyance till the Supreme Court gave its verdict.

The AIMIM leader Owaisi while addressing a protest in Hyderabad on Monday night against the CAA, said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah your police, the Delhi police was hurling stones along with the rioters. We condemn it(violence).. it is a matter of shame that violence occurred. The president of a foreign country comes to Delhi and violence takes place. It is a matter of shame for the country..,” adding violence in any form was “condemnable.”

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A head constable was among seven people killed and at least 50 others, including several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, were injured as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi on Monday (February 24).

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles, and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones.

Chidambaram said the violence in Delhi on Monday and the loss of lives are most shocking and deserve the strongest condemnation.

“The people are paying the price for putting in power insensitive and shortsighted leaders. India has lived with the Citizenship Act 1955 without the amendment. Why does the Act need an amendment now? The amendment (CAA) should be abandoned forthwith. Even now it is not too late. The government should listen to the voices of the anti-CAA protesters and declare that the CAA will be kept in abeyance until the Supreme Court pronounced on its validity,” he said on Twitter.

Even now it is not too late. The government should listen to the voices of the anti-CAA protesters and declare that the CAA will be kept in abeyance until the Supreme Court pronounced on its validity.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 25, 2020

The Congress leader said his party had warned that CAA was “deeply divisive” and should be repealed or abandoned. “Our warning fell on deaf ears,” he said.

Meanwhile, Owaisi asked Amit Shah to take steps to check the violence in the national capital. Owaisi also said he would meet Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and request him to “impose a stay” on NPR.

The state cabinet had at a recent meeting, presided over by Rao, urged the Centre to abrogate the CAA. The Cabinet has decided to pass a resolution in the Assembly against the CAA.

In a tweet last evening, Owaisi alleged that the violence in Delhi as a result of “incitement” by an ex MLA and BJP leader. “These riots were a result of incitement by an ex MLA & BJP leader. Now there is clear evidence of police involvement. The ex-MLA should be arrested immediately, urgent steps should be taken to control the violence. Otherwise, it’ll spread,” he tweeted.

These riots were a result of incitement by an ex MLA & BJP leader. Now there is clear evidence of police involvement

The ex-MLA should be arrested immediately, urgent steps should be taken to control the violence. Otherwise, it’ll spread https://t.co/numkSduOiZ

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) February 24, 2020

Related news: RAF conducts flag march in Delhi following violent protests over CAA

(With inputs from agencies)