On the eve of February 23, 2020, deadly riots broke out in Northeast Delhi between Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and pro-CAA protesters. The violence took a sharp communal turn, leading to 53 deaths over the next 10 days. More than 200 were left injured. Shops were gutted, houses burnt down and even places of worship were not spared from attacks.
While one of the key accused of the riots, former AAP leader Tahir Hussain, has been in jail over a complaint under anti-terror law UAPA, he has filed his nomination from Mustafabad, triggering a flashback of the violent days for residents of not just Mustafabad but other seats in this North-East Delhi belt, which was rocked by communal violence five years ago.
Mishra had then posted a tweet with communal undertones. “Pakistan has entered Shaheen Bagh. Mini-Pakistans are being created in the city. The law of the land is not being followed in Shaheen Bagh, Chand Bagh and Indralok. Pakistani rioters are occupying Delhi roads.” Then came his ‘ultimatum’ moment.
On February 23, hours before the communal riots broke out in Northeast Delhi, Mishra gave an “ultimatum” to the Delhi Police to remove anti-CAA protesters blocking roads in the area. He even urged his supporters to gather at Maujpur Chowk in support of CAA in reply to the roadblock by those protesting against the new citizenship law. The rest, as they say, is history.
News18 asked Mishra about problems in his constituency, Tahir Hussain, Delhi Riots, and his infamous ultimatum. Five years later, as BJP candidate, Mishra says, “Mujhe Santosh hai” (I am content) for issuing the ultimatum to clear the road “for the sake of residents of Delhi”.
Here are the edited excerpts:
What are the key issues for Karawal Nagar this time?
The issue remains the same, not just for Karawal Nagar but for the entire Delhi — backstabbing by Arvind Kejriwal. Today, Delhiites don’t have their basic needs met — roads are broken, water is contaminated, pollution is high, there is a scarcity of buses, the condition of Delhi’s main river is not hidden from anyone, temporary employees are being left in the lurch, street vendors’ problems are not being addressed — all these are issues for Delhi and Karawal Nagar. To add to this long list, Kejriwal’s lies about L-G and PM Modi are also an electoral issue this time. This election is an election for change.
This story was originally published in news18.com. Read the full story here.
