The BJP MLA from Loni, Nand Kishor Gurjar, appears to admit his involvement in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots in recent videos from the “Virat Hindu Sabha” held by the local Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu organisations. However, when contacted, he claimed he was speaking about the violence in Loni, Ghaziabad.
Several VHP and BJP leaders attended the event, where speeches were allegedly made against the Muslim community. BJP MP Parvesh Verma was among the speakers who called for a “total boycott” of the community.
The Delhi Police registered a case against unnamed organisers. R Sathiyasundaram, DCP (Shahdara) said “We took cognizance of the issue and registered an FIR under IPC Section 188 (disobedience to order lawfully promulgated by public servant). The organisers did not take permission from the police before conducting the event. We have initiated legal action”. So far, no speaker or organiser has been named in the FIR, with a senior police officer saying they are still looking at the video footage of the event.
Even several video clips emerged of Gurjar. In one, he is heard saying, “We don’t harass anyone but if someone harasses our sisters or daughters, we won’t spare them. In Delhi, riots broke out because of CAA. That time, these jihadis started killing Hindu. You people were there, you let us in. We were accused of bringing 2.5 lakh people to Delhi. We only went to explain to them but the police registered a case against us for killing jihadis. We will kill jihadis, always will”.
The gathering was called to express outrage over the death of Manish, who was fatally stabbed more than 20 times while walking home in Sunder Nagri, East Delhi, last week. Six people have been detained in connection with the case: Sajid, Aalam, Bilal, Faizan, Mohsin, and Shakir. The incident, according to the police, was the result of an old feud.
Referring to the incident, Gurjar can be heard saying: “This should not happen again. For the next plan, we will bring 50,000 men from Loni. It’s not a big deal. 50,000 men from Loni will come for you. They came before as well whenever Delhi needs. Because we don’t think of Delhi as a different (entity).”
In his speech, Gurjar called Sunder Nagri “‘suar nagri” and said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal should be booked under NSA (National Security Act).
Gurjar can be heard saying that “when Akhlaq is killed for cutting a cow in Dadri, Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh and Arvind Kejriwal cry like their son-in-law has died. But for the murder in Delhi, they are silent”.
The organisers claimed that they had informed the police about the event. “The police haven’t approached us yet but the FIR holds no merit. We did take their permission and informed them about the speeches and speakers. This was not a closed event and invites were also sent. The police were present throughout the event. Many police personnel were there. Reacting to Gurjar’s speech, Y Sathish Reddy, social media convenor of TRS Party, posted a tweet saying, “BJP MLA Nand Kishore Gujjar openly admits his participation in Delhi mass violence! Would the BJP dare to take any action on him?” How can it be illegal?” said Indrajeet Singh, VHP’s state head of electronic media.
Reacting to Gurjar’s speech, Y Sathish Reddy, social media convenor of TRS Party, posted a tweet saying, “BJP MLA Nand Kishore Gujjar openly admits his participation in Delhi mass violence! Would the BJP dare to take any action on him?”
