PM turning blind eye to anarchy in Delhi: Rahul Gandhi

19/06/2018

NEW DELHI, Jun 18: Congress president Rahul Gandhi today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of turning a blind eye to the "anarchy" in Delhi and aiding "chaos and disorder" in the national capital, where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as well as the BJP are staging competing sit-ins.
The people of Delhi are the victims, Gandhi alleged.
"Delhi CM, sitting in dharna at LG office. BJP sitting in dharna at CM residence. Delhi bureaucrats addressing press conferences.
"PM turns a blind eye to the anarchy; rather nudges chaos and disorder. People of Delhi are the victims, as this drama plays out," Gandhi said on Twitter.
Speaking at the AICC briefing, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari termed the developments in the city as "unfortunate" and said the party was keeping a close watch on the situation.
"What is happening in Delhi is extremely unfortunate. It is an evolving situation. We are observing the same very carefully and keeping a close watch on the developments," he told reporters.
On Madhya Pradesh BSP president Narmada Prasad Ahirwar's recent denial of an alliance with the Congress for the state assembly polls, Tewari said, "We would like to underscore that the basis of opposition unity is the larger cause of safeguarding and furthering the idea of India.
"...it is the demand of time that all right thinking progressive and pluralistic forces must come together and there is still time for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections," he said.
A senior state BSP leader added that the party would, as things stand today, contest all 230 Assembly seats in the state.
Governance in Delhi has been severely hit with Kejriwal and some of his cabinet colleagues sitting on 'dharna' at Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office since June 11 and bureaucrats on a "strike" to demand security for themselves.
The Delhi IAS association has asked the Delhi government not to use its officers for "political gains" and rebutted its claim that they were on strike.
Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today wrote to the family of slain journalist Shujaat Bukhari, saying his killing was a grim reminder that progressive voices were constantly at the risk of being silenced by extremist elements.
"I am shocked at the cold-blooded killing of Mr. Shujaat Bukhari outside his office. One of the few moderate voices in an atmosphere torn apart by narrow political considerations, his loss is a grim reminder that progressive voices are constantly at the risk of being silenced by extremist elements," he said in a letter to Rafiuddin Bukhari, the father of the slain journalist.
Gandhi said he lauded Bukhari's courage to continue with his work, despite an earlier attempt on his life.
"In the true spirit of journalism, his moderate views were critical for a nuanced understanding of the Kashmir question. A firm votary of a political dialogue with Pakistan, his commitment towards a credible peace process will be remembered," he said.
"I offer my sincere condolences to the team at Rising Kashmir and wish you success in carrying on the excellent work done by you," the Congress chief added.
Bukhari (50), along with his two personal security guards, was shot dead by three motorcycle-borne assailants outside his office here on June 14.
A special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, central Kashmir has been constituted to probe the killing.

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