The AAP connection in the attack on Temple in Chandni Chowk

Communal tensions flared up in Delhi’s Hauz Qazi area in Chandni Chowk after a scuffle over parking space took an ugly turn. According to police, around 10.55 pm Sunday, a man identified as Aas Mohammed was parking his two-wheeler outside one Sanjeev Gupta’s home. The argument over the parking spot turned physical when a group of men from one side bashed up the other. The two were held and brought to Hauz Qazi police station for further investigation.

Times of India reported that soon after the altercation outside Sanjeev Gupta’s house a group of 20-25 youths barged into Gupta’s house and assaulted him and pelted stones and liquor bottle at his house. Gupta’s wife, Babita, said that Aas Mohammad hurled abuses at her husband. “He retorted after which the youth left threatening him with dire consequences,” she added. 

“While Mohammad and Gupta were held in the police station, a false rumor spread that a man had been beaten to death. “Around 350 people gathered outside the police station and some went outside Gupta’s home, where a temple is situated. It is alleged that some unidentified men vandalized the temple,” an officer said.

However, Delhi CM Kejriwal has been conspicuously silent on the issue. So far, he has neither condemned the attack on the temple nor has made any sort of appeal to maintain harmony. The silence is, in fact, a common factor among other prominent AAP officer bearers as well including Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. The reason for the AAP’s silence has raised certain questions, especially considering the explosive revelation by Ankit Jain and subsequently, Times Now which claims that AAP Minister Imran Hussain was allegedly part of the mob which vandalized the temple. According to the video, while the mob chants Allahu Akbar, Imran can be seen saying ‘chalo chalo.’

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Imran Hussain defended his presence stating that he was called by SHO of the area to pacify the mob. 

However, the Police later confirmed the Times Now video footage saying that the ‘video was shot an hour before Temple desecration’.

Imran Hussain had admitted that he was present at the location but added that neither of the communities want riots in the area. “Muslim and Hindu brothers sat down together that night at the police station and hugged, I was also present there. Neither Hindus nor Muslims want riots here,” Imran Hussain added.

Rebel AAP MLA Kapil Sharma also questioned Imran Hussain’s presence among the mob. “Kejriwal’s Minister Imran Hussain himself came to break the Hindu temple that night. This is the reason for Kejriwal’s criminal silence. Imran Hussain, who broke the temple, must be arrested immediately,” BJP MLA Kapil Mishra said in a tweet along with the Times Now video. 

Even after the video surfaced allegedly involving the Minister of AAP government, neither Kejriwal nor Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has come out with a statement. This is uncharacteristic of Kejriwal who has been known to be vocal about issues involving communal incidents. Kejriwal had even sent an emissary (an AAP MLA, Amanatullah Khan) to provide financial assistance to the family of Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand. Tabrez Ansari was beaten to death when he was caught stealing a bike.

Despite the vocal stance Kejriwal and his party take on such issues, the conspicuous silence of the AAP government over this despicable incident in Chandni Chowk is telling.

Additionally, the presence of a Delhi Minister among the mob which desecrated the temple in Chandni Chowk raises sharp questions on the AAP’s role with regard to the attacks, more so if the AAP leader played a role in giving winds to the communally charged atmosphere that night in Chandni Chowk, as is being claimed by rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra. If indeed the allegations are true, the Union government is well within its right to take strict action against the AAP government in Delhi.