The Opposition, led by the Congress, on Thursday slammed the Narendra Modi government in the Rajya Sabha, alleging that the law and order situation in Delhi had deteriorated, a charge rebutted by Union home minister Rajnath Singh.
Claiming that the Delhi police was a “party” to the incident, the Opposition parties questioned slapping of sedition charges against some students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University and alleged that attempts were being made to save the perpetrators of violence in Patiala House court complex.
“The incidents, which had happened during the last few days, were handled by the Delhi police in a professinal manner. Therefore, I am not in agreement that the law and order situation in Delhi has deterioated during the recent past,” Mr Singh said, while replying to a debate on Calling Attention Motion on “Complete breakdown of law and order in Delhi’”.
The home minister said the police acted as per law in the anti-national and anti-constitutional incidents in the JNU. “A group of many students in the university tried to vitiate the atmosphere but it remained limited to the university premises,” he said.
The minister said, “the Delhi police, while exercising restraint in Patiala House court premises, did not use force because there was a full possibility of stampede due to limited space in the court premises and use of tear gas would have interfered with the working of the court.”
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad had earlier questioned how a “doctored video” in JNU case could be the basis for slapping sedition charge when real videos of violence in Patiala court leads to only “FIR and bail within 30 minutes”.
He was referring to the arrest of BJP MLA O.P. Sharma and two lawyers by the Delhi police in connection with violence at Patiala court. All the three were given immediate bail.
Rajnath Singh said, “What happened at Patiala court was very sad and I condemn it again. No wise person will support it....I will only say that action has been taken. FIR has been registered.”
Mr Azad said, “The police was party to it. How can they take action ” With regard to Mr Azad’s contention that weak charges have been pressed against Mr Sharma and two lawyers, Mr Singh asked, “Will the home minister decide what sections have to be applied.”
Mr Singh said on the day of violence itself, he had spoken to Delhi police Commissioner B.S. Bassi and asked him to take strict action.
Amid repeated questions on the sections registered against the trio, Mr Singh said “all sections which were applicable have been registered”. Amid slogans that weak sections have been imposed, Mr Azad stood up and said, “We are not satisfied. They are being saved. We are walking out”. The Congress, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with the Left, then walked out.
Earlier, the home minister vehemently supported the Delhi police on the overall law and order situation in the country saying, “The Delhi police is doing all it can”. He said the Delhi police has multi-dimensional responsibility and it will be injustice to them to say they are not doing their job.
Earlier while making a statement on behalf of his senior, minister of state for home affairs Kiran Rijiju denied any deterioration of law and order in the national capital saying the Delhi police was performing “efficiently and patiently.”
“I am not only satisfied with its performance but would also like to compliment and thank 60,000 personnel of the Delhi police and it is their toil and labour 24x7 which ensures that the city remains peaceful,” he said.
