Page 41 - CineBuster Vol-3 Issue-04

naming her, Shah stated that the riot was instigated because
of the speech given by a few leaders. He gave a chronology of
how speeches by opposition leaders and others first led to the
protest at Shaheen Bagh, and eventually, the riots.

He first mentioned the Congress’ 14 December Bharat
Bachao Rally, and how it played a role in “starting the protest
at Shaheen Bagh and instigating people”.

“There was an anti-CAA rally in Ramlila Maidan on 14
December, in which people were asked to come out of their
homes for a fight. Aar-paar ki ladai ki baat boli. Yeh kaha ki
abhi nahin nikloge toh kayar kehlaoge. (A do-or-die battle was
mentioned. It was said if you don’t come out now, you’ll be
called a coward). Is this not hate speech?” Shah said, adding is no such clause. Youth and minorities are being misled,
that the “Shaheen Bagh (protest) started on 16 December”. brainwashed,” he alleged.

Shah claimed that on 17 February, a group named United “This is not the first law based on religion. Anyone who has
Against Hate came up, instigating people to come out on the questions on the act can come to my chamber and I will
streets during US President Donald Trump’s visit. give all the answers.” Last month, Shah had given a similar
open invitation to Shaheen Bagh protesters. However, when a
“On 19 February again, an individual gave a statement saying delegation tried to march to his office, it was stopped by the
‘jo cheez maangne nahin milti, woh chheenni padti hai. Hum Delhi Police.
15 crore hain par 100 crore par bhari padenge’ (What isn’t ‘I requested Doval to go on ground’ Shah claimed that it was
given upon asking has to be snatched. We are 15 crore but he who asked National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to go to the
we’ll outmuscle 100 crore),” Shah said, referring to a speech troubled spots and boost the morale of the police and people
given by All India Majlis-e-Ittihadul Muslimeen leader Waris on 26 February.
Pathan. “And then started the sit-in protest on 23 February
which then turned into a riot on 24 February.” “I asked Ajit Doval to go and boost the morale of the police.
I did not go myself because I did not want the police to get
Shah said many pro-CAA rallies were organised across the busy with my travel arrangements. I wanted them to be on the
country before 23 February, but no incident of violence was ground and concentrate on policing… at that time their job
reported from anywhere. was to maintain law and order,” he said.

“It is wrong to say that when people who are pro-CAA came Dismissing the allegations that he was busy with Trump’s
out, violence began. A lot of these rallies have happened in visit while Delhi was burning, Shah said he was with the
the past; I have been a part of most of them, and no violence Delhi Police, constantly monitoring the situation and chairing
broke out anywhere,” he said. Shah also brought up the 1984 meetings.
riots, saying 3,000 Sikhs were killed under the Congress
regime. “I was with the Delhi Police. I did not even go for the dinner
arranged by the Prime Minister. On 24 February at 7 pm, I
‘CAA not discriminatory’ was holding review meetings, and was constantly monitoring
Reiterating that the CAA is not discriminatory in nature and the situation,” Shah said. He added that it was a conscious
cannot take away citizenship from any individual, whether a decision was taken to not discuss the riots in Parliament
Hindu or a Muslim, Shah said these were attempts to politicise before Holi, as it was a vulnerable time and may have incited
the issue. people’s sentiments.

He claimed many laws had been drafted based on religion 700 FIRs registered, 40 teams on the job
earlier, even during the Congress-led UPA’s tenure, and it was Shah said the Delhi Police are on the job 24 hours a day to
nothing new. arrest the people who indulged in the violence, and are taking
assistance from technical teams. He said 700 FIRs have been
“Which clause says citizenship will be taken away? There filed, and 2,647 people have been arrested and detained.

37 CINE BUSTER n MARCH 15 n 2020