3 weeks ago
Sood accuses AAP over conspiracy behind 2020 Delhi riots
In Delhi, there is a leader in charge of keeping the city safe.
His name is Ashish Sood, and he is very upset with a group of politicians called the Aam Aadmi Party.
He says these politicians did not pay attention to a big secret plan behind some very bad riots in 2020.
During riots, big crowds fight, and things get very dangerous.
Mr. Sood thinks the riots were started at a special time, right when an important visitor from America was coming to India.
He says that way, people all over the world would see what was happening.
A person named Tahir Hussain, who used to work with that political group, was found guilty by a court for hurting a security officer named Ankit Sharma.
He was sent to jail for his whole life.
Mr. Sood says the political group talked about punishing bad people, but some of its leaders actually defended Mr. Hussain.
Another police officer, Ratan Lal, also died during the riots.
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood accused AAP of ignoring what he called a larger conspiracy behind the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.
Sood alleged the violence was deliberately timed with then-US President Donald Trump's India visit to attract international attention.
He questioned AAP leaders' response to former councillor Tahir Hussain, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering IB officer Ankit Sharma.
Sood cited contradictions, contrasting Kejriwal's pledge of 'double punishment' for guilty leaders with Amanatullah Khan's March 2020 statement defending Hussain.
Sood said protests around Jafrabad and Maujpur escalated into violence involving arson, stone-pelting and petrol-bomb attacks, in which Head Constable Ratan Lal was killed.
- Who
- Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood, who made the accusations against Aam Aadmi Party leaders including Arvind Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh and Amanatullah Khan.
- What
- Sood accused AAP of ignoring what he called a larger conspiracy behind the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, allegedly timed with Donald Trump's India visit.
- Where
- New Delhi, specifically North-East Delhi areas including Jafrabad, Maujpur and Chand Bagh.
- When
- Sood spoke on Tuesday in the Delhi Legislative Assembly; the riots escalated from February 24, 2020, after protests on February 22-23.
- Why
- Sood said AAP's responses to Tahir Hussain, convicted for killing IB officer Ankit Sharma, contradicted the party's stated principles such as Kejriwal's 'double punishment' pledge.
Sood's Position (BJP government)
AAP's Position
Conspiracy behind the riots
Sood's Position (BJP government)
Sood alleges the riots were part of a larger conspiracy deliberately timed with Donald Trump's India visit, involving speeches by Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid calling for blockades and 'chakka jam'.
AAP's Position
A March 2020 statement attributed to Amanatullah Khan defended Tahir Hussain and alleged he was being targeted because he was a Muslim, rejecting the conspiracy framing.
AAP's response to Tahir Hussain
Sood's Position (BJP government)
Sood says AAP's response was contradictory, noting Kejriwal's pledge that any guilty leader should face 'double punishment' while party figures defended Hussain.
AAP's Position
AAP figures, including Khan, defended Hussain and said he was being singled out because of his religion.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Ashish Sood, Delhi Home Minister
- Accused Party
- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
- Event
- 2020 North-East Delhi riots
- Alleged Motive
- Violence timed with Donald Trump's India visit to attract international attention
- Conviction
- Tahir Hussain sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma
- Fatalities
- IB officer Ankit Sharma and Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal killed
- Locations
- Jafrabad, Maujpur and Chand Bagh in North-East Delhi
- Timeline
- Protests Feb 22-23; widespread violence from Feb 24; Ankit Sharma killed Feb 25, 2020
Quotes
Ashish Sood
Delhi Home Minister
“any AAP leader found guilty should face “double punishment””
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