The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, accusing them of backing those convicted in the killing of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The remarks came a day after a Delhi court convicted former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others in connection with Sharma's murder.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia welcomed the court's verdict, describing it as a significant step towards justice for the slain IB officer and his family. He said the conviction reaffirmed the rule of law and demonstrated that those responsible for violent crimes would eventually be held accountable through the judicial process.
Targeting the Aam Aadmi Party, Bhatia alleged that AAP national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had consistently defended Tahir Hussain for what he described as "vote-bank politics." He claimed that the AAP leadership had failed to distance itself from Hussain despite the serious allegations against him.
The BJP spokesperson further accused Kejriwal of instigating and sponsoring the 2020 Delhi riots during his tenure as Chief Minister, alleging that political interests took precedence over maintaining law and order. He also criticized the Congress, alleging that senior leader Sonia Gandhi and the AAP leadership had extended support to those accused in the case, calling it an example of "dirty and low-level politics."
Bhatia said the court's verdict should serve as a reminder that justice cannot be obstructed by political patronage. He asserted that the BJP has consistently stood with the family of Ankit Sharma and has demanded strict action against those responsible for the violence that claimed several lives during the northeast Delhi riots.
The BJP's allegations have added another political dimension to the case, with the ruling party seeking to hold both the AAP and the Congress accountable for their alleged positions regarding the accused. The opposition parties have previously rejected similar allegations, maintaining that legal proceedings should be allowed to take their course without political interference.
The conviction of Tahir Hussain and four others in the Ankit Sharma murder case has once again brought the 2020 northeast Delhi riots into the political spotlight, with the verdict triggering fresh exchanges between the BJP and opposition parties over responsibility and accountability. The matter is expected to remain a subject of political debate as the legal process moves forward.
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