Rekhta Gupta and Arvind Kejriwal (R)
NEW DELHI: A day after former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain was convicted in the 2020 Delhi riots case, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday accused Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party of giving him “political patronage and protection.”She also demanded answers from the party’s top leadership.Addressing reporters, Gupta alleged that AAP top brass including, Arvind Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia were answerable for what she called a “political conspiracy” behind the violence.”Aam Aadmi Party leadership must explain its political association with and patronage to a person who has been found guilty of instigating the Delhi riots, murder and widespread violence,” she said.Gupta said Hussain’s conviction had brought justice to the victims of the 2020 riots and their families.Recalling the violence that rocked northeast Delhi, she said the city witnessed “a horrific phase of violence, stone-pelting and lawlessness” in which many people lost their lives and several families were devastated.”There must be accountability to the people of Delhi and that those responsible for the riots should be punished in accordance with the law,” she said, adding that ensuring justice for the victims and preventing such incidents in the future remained the government’s priority. Earlier in the day, former Delhi CM and party boss Kejriwal rejected the BJP’s attempts to link Hussain with the AAP, saying he had been expelled from the party long ago and had later joined the AIMIM.Responding to Kejriwal’s remarks, Gupta renewed her attack on the AAP.”AAP extended protection and political patronage to Tahir Hussain who caused pain to thousands.””Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia are answerable to the people of Delhi. A political conspiracy was hatched and the people will never forgive them,” the chief minister added.On Monday, a Delhi court convicted former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others for the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
