The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp attack on the Congress, demanding a formal apology to the victims of the 2020 Delhi riots. This demand comes in response to recent statements made by senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal regarding the communal violence.
BJP's Accusation of a False Narrative
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla spearheaded the offensive, accusing the Congress of perpetuating a dangerous and false narrative about the riots. He specifically targeted comments made by Kapil Sibal, who suggested the violence was a pre-planned conspiracy rather than a spontaneous outbreak.
Poonawalla stated that such claims by the Congress insult the memory of those who lost their lives and suffered during the tragic events of February 2020. He argued that the party, particularly through the statements of leaders like Sibal and Rahul Gandhi, has consistently tried to politicize the tragedy for electoral gain.
The Trigger: Kapil Sibal's Remarks
The immediate trigger for the BJP's renewed criticism was an event where Kapil Sibal discussed the Delhi riots. Poonawalla referenced Sibal's alleged assertion that the riots were a 'conspiracy,' a viewpoint the BJP vehemently rejects. The BJP spokesperson linked this to what he called the ' toolkit gang' – a term often used by BJP leaders to allege a coordinated campaign against the government.
Poonawalla emphasized that the riots had a profound human cost, with over 50 people killed and hundreds injured, and that attributing it to a conspiracy diminishes the real suffering on the ground. He challenged the Congress to present any evidence of a conspiracy to the courts or investigative agencies instead of making public allegations.
Connecting to Rahul Gandhi's Past Comments
The BJP spokesperson did not stop at Sibal. He connected these remarks to the past statements of Rahul Gandhi. Poonawalla recalled that Rahul Gandhi had previously referred to the riots as a 'planned pogrom,' a characterization the BJP finds deeply offensive and factually incorrect.
According to the BJP's narrative, this pattern of language from the Congress leadership reveals a deliberate attempt to defame India and its institutions on the international stage. Poonawalla accused Congress of using the pain of riot victims as a political tool to tarnish the country's image.
The Political Fallout and Demand for Apology
The core of the BJP's demand is a public apology from the Congress party. Poonawalla insisted that the Congress must apologize not just to the nation, but specifically to the families who endured loss and trauma during the riots. He framed the Congress's rhetoric as an act of adding insult to injury for the victims.
This episode is the latest in a series of bitter political exchanges between the two national parties over the Delhi riots. The event remains a highly sensitive and politicized issue, with each side blaming the other for the violence and its aftermath. The BJP's aggressive stance seeks to paint the Congress as irresponsible and conspiratorial, while positioning itself as a defender of the victims' dignity and the nation's integrity.
The controversy underscores how historical episodes of communal violence continue to shape political discourse and accusations in the run-up to elections, with each party seeking to control the narrative and assign blame.
