"Riots are part of life":Haryana Minister’s insensitive remark as Delhi death toll rises to 34

Manglore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 27, 2020:   A Haryana government minister said violence of the kind witnessed in northeast Delhi in recent days had happened before and was a "part of life".

 

"When Indira Gandhi’s assassination took place, all of Delhi burned," Ranjit Singh Chautala said, referring to the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.

Thirty-five people have been killed in the violence in northeast Delhi, with Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Shiv Vihar and Chand Bagh among the affected areas. Scores more are injured.

The Congress and the government are sparring over the transfer of a Delhi High Court judge who grilled authorities on Wednesday about the violence, which raged on during the state visit by US President Donald Trump.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the transfer was routine and based on a recommendation by the Supreme Court collegium.

Meanwhile, India has taken exception to criticism from a US commission on religious freedom, which said the Indian government was "failing in its duty to protect its citizens".

The Ministry of External Affairs warned the commission, known as the USCIRF, against making "irresponsible comments" at a "sensitive" time.