Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and others raise slogans during a protest over Delhi violence, at Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session, in New Delhi, Monday, March 2, 2020. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan)
Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and others raise slogans during a protest over Delhi violence, at Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session, in New Delhi, Monday, March 2, 2020. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan)
New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) The Congress, after raising the issue of Delhi riots in Parliament on Monday, demanded that the Prime Minister should speak on the issue.
Staging a protest at the Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises, it said it wanted a full debate before moving on to any other issue.
Congress MP Manish Tewari said: "The riots have happened in Delhi and more than 40 people have died... there should be discussion in the house and the Prime Minister should make a statement."
To the ruling BJP's allegation that Congress is politicising the issue, he shot back: "Demanding a discussion and statement from the Prime Minister in a democracy is politics?"
Parliament resumed on Monday, with opposition parties raising slogans and protesting against the government over the violence that erupted across various localities in northeast Delhi between February 23-25. At least 45 people have lost their lives and more than 300 are injured and many have been left homeless.
The violence began following clashes between anti and pro CAA groups.
The budget session of parliament began on January 31 and adjourned on February 11 to resume on March 2. It will conclude on April 3.
'Shah must resign': Oppn hold protests against govt over Delhi riots
New Delhi, March 2 (PTI): Congress, Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party MPs staged separate dharnas on Monday near the Gandhi statue in Parliament, demanding answers from the government on the Delhi riots on the first day of the second half of the budget session.
Covering their eyes with black bands and holding a finger on their lips in an apparent imitation of the Gandhi's Three Monkeys, MPs like Mohua Mitra, Sukhendu Shekhar Rai were part of the protest.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, Shashi Tharoor and others held placards demanding answers on the Delhi riots and the resignation of home minister Amit Shah.
Another protest, this time by four AAP MPs -- Sanjay Singh, Bhagwant Mann, N D Gupta and Sushil Gupta -- was held in front of Gandhi statue of Parliament against violence in Delhi.
They raised slogans of "BJP murdabad".
The Congress MPs held placards reading 'Save Our India', 'Prime Minister Must Answer' and 'Shah Must Resign'.
"When Delhi was burning, our home minister was playing the host in Ahmedabad. Playing a host is fine, but when Indians were being killed, that should have been the priority," Congress' leader in Lok Sabha Chowdhury said referring to the 'Namaste Trump' programme in which Shah had participated.
"There should be an investigation into the violence. The prime minister speaks after three days, the home minister does not say anything, Ajit Doval is sent to look into it, this is their failure," he told reporters outside Parliament.
Speaking to reporters, Tharoor said the Congress wants a debate over what happened in Delhi.
"The home minister has a big responsibility as the law and order is under him. The home minister must resign as he could not fulfil his responsibilities," he said.
The Congress and other opposition parties have accused the police of bias and inaction in the Delhi violence.
At least 42 people died and more than 200 were injured during the communal riots in northeast Delhi.
Opposition MPs have also given notice in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to discuss the Delhi riots.
Those who gave notice include Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premachandran, Indian Union Muslim League MP PK Kunjalikutty, Communist Party of India-Marxist MP Elamaram Kareem, and CPI MP Binoy Vishwam.
A Congress delegation, including party chief Sonia Gandhi, urged President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday to call for home minister Shah's resignation over his alleged "abdication of duty" during the communal violence in Delhi and remind the Centre of its "raj dharma".
The Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the party, had also deliberated on the issue last week and passed a resolution, demanding answers from both the central and Delhi governments, while also urging the people of Delhi to "reject the politics of hate".
The Congress president on Friday had deputed a five-member team to visit the riot-affected areas in northeast Delhi and submit a report to her after assessing the situation there.
The delegation comprised All India Congress Committee general secretary Mukul Wasnik, AICC in-charge for Delhi Shaktisinh Gohil, Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja, former MP Tariq Anwar and Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev.
The budget session of Parliament commenced on January 31 and continued till February 11.
After a break, it commenced on March 2 and will continue till April 3.
