BJP seeks apology from Kejriwal, Sonia, and Rahul after Tahir Hussain conviction
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) sought an apology from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leaders Sonia
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) sought an apology from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, a day after the conviction of former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau official Ankit Sharma during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. On Monday (July 13, 2026), a trial court convicted the five accused in the case. At a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia welcomed the verdict, stating that justice had been delivered to the family of the deceased.
Bhatia said that when the issue of the riots was raised in Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had stated in March 2020 that those involved would not be spared. "Today, when this verdict has come, it would not be wrong to say that this is a victory for justice," he said. He accused Mr. Kejriwal of giving "political protection" to the former AAP councillor and also alleged that Ms. Gandhi and Mr. Gandhi engaged in "appeasement" and "vulture politics". "They do not stand with the victim's family, rather with the accused because they see the accused's religion.
That is their vote bank," Mr. Bhatia said. Referring to the Delhi riots, he said that after the Citizenship (Amendment) Act was passed by Parliament, "an atmosphere was created by Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi that Muslims would lose their citizenship". "I would like to ask Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Khargeji (Congress president)... how many Muslims in India have actually lost their citizenship? Not a single one," he said. "We demand that Arvind Kejriwal should apologise to the country and to the people of Delhi. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should also categorically withdraw their earlier statements and issue an unconditional apology," he said, while also seeking the expulsion of AAP leader Amanatullah Khan and Congress leader Imran Masood from their parties for allegedly making statements based on religion.
"The pursuit of justice must continue, because other cases related to the Delhi riots are still pending. Those cases should be pursued with the full strength available to the government and the prosecuting agencies. We will ensure that every culprit is brought to justice, tried and if convicted, ends up behind bars," Mr. Bhatia said.
The BriefWire