At a time when the entire National Capital has expressed anger against the Shaheen Bagh protests that have resulted in roadblocks and logjams causing massive traffic jams and diversions, the AAP has come out supporting the Shaheen Bagh protesters instead of speaking up for the ordinary residents of Delhi.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia has said that he stands with the people of Shaheen Bagh.
#JustIn – I stand with the people of Shaheen Bagh : Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia. pic.twitter.com/iFJg0X36uO
— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 23, 2020
Manish Sisodia has made this outrageous remark even as the Shaheen Bagh protests have more than doubled the travel time between Noida and South Delhi. Local residents have been protesting against the road blockage caused by the protests. Recently, the South Delhi residents took to the streets protesting against the road closure. Such has been the hardship caused by the Shaheen Bagh protests that major Delhi roads, the Mathura Road and the Ring Road are currently bearing vehicular volumes four times their capacity.
Essential services like school buses, ambulances, etc. too have been facing major inconvenience owing to the protests. An ambulance was allowed as part of the PR campaign, but this entire month, Shaheen Bagh has been an adamant inconvenience.
While AAP has remained mum on such blatant hooliganism in the name of protests, it is the Lieutenant Governor, Anil Baijal who has come to Delhi’s rescue. It was after his intervention that the protesters decided to “allow” passage to Ambulance, School buses.
The AAP-led Delhi government claims to be revolutionising Delhi’s education, but it has turned a blind eye towards the schoolchildren who have been severely affected by the Shaheen Bagh agitation.
Even the Delhi Police has brought to light the woes of schoolchildren and the anxiety of their parents. It had tweeted, “Their (schoolchildren’s) parents have expressed deep anxiety in view of forthcoming Board examinations. Daily commuters, local residents and businesspersons are also facing acute harassment.”
Their parents have expressed deep anxiety in view of forthcoming Board examinations. Daily commuters, local residents and businesspersons are also facing acute harassment.
We once again appeal to the protesters at Shaheen Bagh to clear the road and restore normal traffic.
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) January 20, 2020
Earlier, by remaining mum, the Kejriwal government had given tacit support to the Shaheen Bagh protests. However, the party has now come out brazenly supporting the obnoxious methods of the protesters.
The AAP has come under the scanner ever since the anti CAA violence broke out. In fact, AAP MLA from the region, Amanatullah Khan has himself drawn fire in connection with the Jamia violence last month. The protests carried out by Jamia students against the CAA had turned violent in Jamia Nagar, which happens to be in vicinity of the Shaheen Bagh area.
Abdur Rehman, who currently faces charges of leading the violent mobs of Seelampur and then encouraging them for resorting to violence, has also been given an election ticket by the AAP.
What started as AAP’s tacit support for the anti CAA violence with the alleged involvement of its leaders and party’s silence during the Shaheen Bagh protests has now taken the shape of vocal support after Sisodia’s remarks.
The Delhi Assembly polls are around the corner. The BJP has not campaigned the way it should have. But the party is the only one that stands against anti CAA violence and the Shaheen Bagh protests which have come as huge inconvenience for the Delhi residents.
AAP’s support for the protests could therefore be the point that gives the BJP the kind of impetus it just needed. Therefore, the BJP might just topple the AAP despite its not so brilliant poll campaign, given Sisodia’s insensitive remarks supporting the Shaheen Bagh protests.
