The Congress Working Committee met on Wednesday and after deliberations for more than two hours, the interim party president Sonia Gandhi demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah should resign following his "colossal failure" in controlling violence in north-east Delhi.
"After reviewing the situation, the CWC is of the firm opinion that what has happened in Delhi is a colossal failure of duty for which the entire responsibility must be borne by the Central government, particularly the Home Minister, and calls upon the Home Minister to tender his resignation immediately"
The Congress said the Delhi Chief Minister is also responsible for the situation.
"The Chief Minister and the Delhi Government are equally responsible for not activating the administration to reach out to the people to maintain peace and harmony.
"It is the collective failure of the two governments that has resulted in a great tragedy in the capital city which threatens to become worse by the day," said the CWC statement read out by Sonia Gandhi.
"The tragic events since last Sunday have a history, design and pattern. It was evident even during the Delhi elections. Several leaders of the BJP made inflammatory statements clearly intended to create an atmosphere of fear and hate. The last of these statements were made on Sunday, when a BJP leader gave an ultimatum of three days to the Delhi Police," said the CWC statement.
The Congress said it is gravely concerned over the unprecedented continuing violence and loss of lives in Delhi, and the deteriorating situation in the national capital.
Sonia Gandhi said that since 2014 no all-party meeting has been called, which is "shocking".
Violence continues unabated on the streets of north-east Delhi.
"The CWC offers its sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and earnestly wishes that the injured persons will recover swiftly and be restored to good health", said the CWC.
LS polls: First phase sees 60.03 per cent voting against 69.43 per cent in 2019
Voting for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections was held on Friday for 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories (UTs) amid reports of violence from some parts of West Bengal and Manipur.
6 Eastern Nagaland districts abstain from voting amid shutdown call over ‘frontier territory’ demand
Despite the indefinite shutdown call given by the Naga bodies from Thursday evening, the Election Commission made all efforts to conduct polling in the six districts covering 20 of the state's 60 Assembly segments.
Tripura LS Poll: 80.40% voting turnout recorded till 5 PM
Addressing a press conference here in his chamber on Friday evening, RO Dr Vishal Kumar said, “The voting turnout rested at 80.40% till 5 pm today and the figure is expected to cross the record of the previous Lok Sabha election which recorded 82.4%.”
Congress, INDIA bloc against development & farmers: PM Modi says in Maharashtra
Criticising the Congress and the INDIA bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the unwavering faith of the people in 'Modi's Guarantee' is giving sleepless nights to the Opposition alliance leaders.
BJP rules out oppositions’ allegation of proxy voting; thanks EC, police of ensuring peaceful voting
At a time when the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc had alleged of proxy voting and targeted the ruling BJP of turning the election into a farce, the ruling BJP on Friday thanked the election commission for ensuring peaceful voting.
Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Wayanad shows 'lack of confidence': BJP President Nadda
Accusing Rahul Gandhi of "promoting corruption, nepotism, and appeasement", BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda said on Friday that the Congress leader's decision to contest from Wayanad shows a "lack of confidence" in winning his long-standing Lok Sabha seat of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
INDI alliance loses ground, resorts to false allegations: CM
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha said on Friday that the INDI alliance has lost its ground, leading them to resort to making false and misleading allegations. Dr. Saha said this while traveling by train to participate in election programs in North District and Unakoti District.
Tripura records highest 79.83 pc voter turnout in Northeast
Tripura witnessed around 79.83 per cent voter turnout registered till 5 p.m. in the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat on Friday in the first of the seven-phased general polls, as per the data provided by the Election Commission of India (ECI).