New Delhi: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack at the Centre and the Delhi government over the outbreak violence in the north-eastern area of the national capital which has claimed 20 lives. The party held Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the present situation and sought his resignation.


Gandhi said that the Centre and the Union Home Minister is responsible for the present situation in Delhi and the Union Home Minister should resign.

Alleging a conspiracy behind the eruption of violence, she said: “There is a conspiracy behind the violence, country also saw this during Delhi elections. Many BJP leaders made inciting comments creating an atmosphere of fear and hatred.”

She also slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the NCT and said: “the Chief Minister and  Delhi government is equally responsible for not activating the administration to reach out to the people to maintain peace and harmony.”

“It is the collective failure of both governments that have resulted in a great tragedy in the capital city,” she said.

Targeting the Delhi Police she said: “Delhi Police has remained paralysed in the last 72 hrs. Around 18 lives have been lost so far, including a head constable, and hundreds are in hospital, many with gunshot injuries. Violence continues unabated on the streets of North East Delhi.”

Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Congress was to hold a march and give a memorandum to President today but he communicated that he is unavailable and has given the time for tomorrow. “Upholding the respect for his high office, we have deferred the march for tomorrow,” he said.

Attacking BJP leader Kapil Mishra over his alleged inciting statement Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said: “What BJP leader Kapil Mishra has said is shameful and government not doing anything is even more shameful.”