CAA: NSA tasked with responsibility to oversee situation in Delhi
NEW DELHI : As per sources in the government, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has been given the charge of bringing Delhi violence under control.
The Cabinet Committee on Security – the final decision-making body on matters related to country’s security – will meet today to discuss the violence in the capital. Mr Doval will brief the committee of the situation. The violence, which left neighbourhoods looking as though it was a war zone, also led to the postponement of CBSE board exams to be held in affected areas on Wednesday.
Doval had last night visited Jaffrabad, Seelampur and other affected parts of northeast Delhi to review the situation. The toll in northeast Delhi communal violence rose to 20, according to GTB Hospital authorities. ” Medical Superintendent of GTB Hospital Sunil Kumar told News Agency pti. In the clashes, 189 injured are being treated at the hospital.
Calling it the government’s responsibility to end the violence that Delhi has been witnessing since three days, Congress leader P Chidambaram said in a series of tweets that the clashes point to a “colossal failure of the Delhi Police.”
He said that the government should have taken action irrespective of whether the violence was instigated or spontaneous (MHA). “Two High Court judges had to hold a midnight hearing last night to ensure the safe evacuation of injured persons to a proper hospital. What does it say about the performance of Delhi Police?” he questioned.
Over 150 people have been injured in the clashes. The violence-hit areas continue to remain tense this morning, with police and paramilitary personnel on the ground. Late last night, NSA Ajit Doval visited areas affected by the violence and met with top police officers.
The Delhi High Court, in a late-night order, asked the police to ensure safe passage and emergency treatment for those injured in the unprecedented violence in the capital since for the last three days.
The hearing by a two-judge bench of the Delhi High Court took place at the residence of Justice S Murlidhar. The court was hearing an urgent petition seeking safe passage for the injured to medical institutions with adequate facilities. The court will take up the case again at 2:15 pm today.
With the violence spiraling on Tuesday, Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting with top cops and officials on Tuesday evening, his third in 24 hours. Mr Shah spoke to the family of Amit Sharma, an injured senior police officer in Delhi’s Shahdara area and asked about his health.
Delhi Police has been heavily criticised for apparent inaction when the violence unfolded and for deploying inadequate forces on the ground. “The Ministry of Home Affairs is continually supporting us. We have adequate forces,” Delhi police chef Amulya Patnaik told news agency ANI on Tuesday.
On Tuesday evening, a renewed push by police had cleared the Jaffrabad metro Station of anti-citizenship law protesters; a group of women had begun a sit-in protest at the spot on Saturday night. Police then began moving towards Maujpur, where stone throwing on Sunday had sparked the violence.
At night, Mr Kejriwal met with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and officials, asking them to take necessary steps to restore peace.
The CBSE has postponed Board exams scheduled today in parts of northeast Delhi. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has ordered all private and government schools to remain closed.
