Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Senior Congress leader and former Sadr-i-Riasat of J&K, Dr Karan Singh today demanded a judicial inquiry in Delhi violence and said that Army should be deployed, if necessary to bring peace in violence-hit parts of the Union capital.
In a press statement here today, the former Rajya Sabha MP said that after two days of communal clashes that claimed 22 lives, a brittle quiet settled over parts of riot-hit northeast Delhi, but there was violence in some other places with shops set ablaze and the body of an Intelligence official found in a drain.
“Having lived in Delhi for over half a century and represented it in Parliament, I am shocked beyond belief at the vicious communal riots that have broken out in our capital city,” Singh said.
“The loss of lives and extensive destruction of property that have accompanied these riots will remain a blot on our capital for many years to come. I sincerely appeal to all communities not to fall into the trap of communal polarization and violence which can only result in further deaths and disaster,” a 88-year-old veteran Congress leader said.
Suitable compensation should also be provided to the next of kin of the deceased and to those who suffered loss of property, Dr Singh said.
“It was essential for the Government, which is directly responsible for law and order in the capital, to have intervened effectively as soon as the trouble began. Unfortunately, this did not happen and we have witnessed riots for over three days,” he said.
“Even at this late stage, I urge that the para-military forces and, if necessary, the Army should be deployed without any further delay so that the riots are contained and not allowed to spread to other parts of Delhi,” Singh maintained.
After the situation has returned to normal, there should be a full-fledged judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts regarding these terrible events so that responsibility can squarely be fixed on all those who, by their acts of commission or omission, were behind this tragic situation, he added.
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