No delay in filing FIRs over alleged hate speeches, a furious Delhi HC told Delhi Police, urging the cops to “seriously consider consequences”.
New Delhi| The court’s comment came after a tension-filled hearing in which videos of hate speeches by four BJP leaders – Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Abhay Verma and Parvesh Verma – were played during a hearing seeking filing of FIRs against those who incited and participated in violence that rocked Delhi for a fourth straight day today, leaving 24 dead and over 200 injured.
The court also said it would not concern itself with only those videos it had seen, noting, “all videos concerning this matter shall be communicated to the Commissioner”.
In strongly-worded comments, the court also said it would not allow “another 1984 scenario”, referring to the bloody anti-Sikh riots that killed over 3,000 in Delhi alone.
The hearing has been adjourned till Thursday.
Video 1: Kapil Mishra, BJP
One of the videos played in court was BJP leader Kapil Mishra’s recent provocative speech at Maujpur Chowk, which was the epicentre of riots over the last three days.
Though he has remained defiant, many leaders have slammed the former MLA and BJP leader for his incendiary speech on Sunday.
On Sunday, Mishra had issued an ultimatum to the Delhi Police to clear the streets of the anti-CAA protesters. Mishra tweeted stating, “Giving a three-day ultimatum to Delhi Police to clear the roads in Jaffrabad and Chand Bagh of protesters. Don’t try to reason with us after this, because we won’t pay heed.”
He also attached a video with his tweet and wrote, “We will maintain peace until Donald Trump is in India. After that, we refuse to listen to even the police if the roads are not cleared…. we will be forced to hit the streets.”
Video 2: Parvesh Verma, BJP
Another video played in court showed the instigating speech given by West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Verma called anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh “rapists and murderers”.
On January 28, the BJP MP, in an interview to ANI, said: “Lakhs of people gather there [Shaheen Bagh]. People of Delhi will have to think and make a decision. They will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters, kill them. There is time today, Modi Ji and Amit Shah won’t come to save you tomorrow.”
“This election [Delhi poll] is not a small election but that for stability and unity of the country. If a government of the Bharatiya Janata Party is formed on February 11, then after an hour no one will be seen in Shaheen Bagh,” said West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Verma.
“If my government is formed in Delhi, then give me only one month’s time after February 11. Will not leave any mosques built in my Lok Sabha constituency on government land will remove them all,” Parvesh Varma said.
#WATCH: BJP MP Parvesh Verma says, "…Lakhs of people gather there (Shaheen Bagh). People of Delhi will have to think & take a decision. They'll enter your houses, rape your sisters&daughters, kill them. There's time today, Modi ji & Amit Shah won't come to save you tomorrow…" pic.twitter.com/1G801z5ZbM
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2020
Video 3: Anurag Thakur, BJP minister
Another video that was played in court was related to the controversial ‘goli maro’ slogan raised during a rally led by Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur in support of the BJP candidate from Rithala.
He chanted the inflammatory slogan “traitors should be shot” after he lashed out at anti-CAA protesters. At the rally, Thakur chanted “desh ke gaddaron ko” to which the crowd responded, “goli maro sa*** ko” (shoot down the traitors).
Video 4: Abhay Verma, BJP MLA
The last video that was played was from Tuesday and involved BJP’s newly-elected MLA Abhay Verma. In a fresh video that surfaced online yesterday shows the BJP MLA leading a group of men who could be heard chanting provocative slogans. They said, “Police ke hathyaaron ko, goli maaro s***** ko.” (Shoot those who killed policemen.)
However, Verma clarified to The Indian Express that he had told them not to raise slogans and that he had gone to get some shops reopened in the area.
ये लक्ष्मी नगर भाजपा का विधायक क्या कर रहा है? @AmitShah शांति बहाली के लिये सर्वदलीय मीटिंग का दिखावा करते हैं और उनके विधायक दंगा भड़काने में लगे हैं। pic.twitter.com/zxl5C90VH9
— Sanjay Singh AAP (@SanjayAzadSln) February 25, 2020
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