Salman Khurshid has also been cited by another defendant for giving speeches at protest sites. (Proceedings)
New Delhi:
Congressional Leader and former Union Minister Salman Khurshid has been named in the latest indictment filed by the Delhi Police in the Delhi Riots case for making “provocative speeches”.
The 17,000 page charge sheet, filed on September 17, contains a witness statement that reads: “Umar Khalid, Salman Khurshid, Nadeem Khan … all used to give provocative speeches (at the anti-CAA / NRC sit-ins in Delhi) and people used to mobilize. “
The police have not mentioned the exact nature of the alleged provocative speeches. The police (known as a protective witness) have concealed the identity of the witness. Police claim that the witness was part of the core team of conspirators accused of planning the riots.
The statement has been registered before a Magistrate (under article 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code or CrPC), which gives it greater legal weight.
Mr. Khurshid has also been cited by another defendant for speaking at protest sites in a statement recorded by the police.
“If you collect trash, you get a lot of dirt. Any trash can be put in to support statements made by individuals. I would be intrigued to know what a provocative statement is,” said the 67-year-old congressional leader, responding to the accusations.
“Did I attend a protest to sing a lullaby or support a legitimate, constitutional cause? (This is) an attempted garbage collection. Unfortunately, garbage collectors are not doing a good job. Don’t pick up trash and ask questions on the quality of the garbage. “
“Has (the witness) not lied by saying that I made provocative statements. Have the police acted on the statement? If they have not acted accordingly, what is the value of the statement,” Khurshid added.
Khurshid is the highest-ranking politician mentioned in the police records so far. The police have been criticized for using the riot investigation to target critics of the government, as well as prominent figures in the anti-CAA / NRC movement.
CPM leader Brinda Karat, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and activist Yogendra Yadav were also named on the charge sheet in the speeches.
54 died in the riots in February this year.
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