Cong MP accuses Kejri of betraying minorities

Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi accused former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of betraying the minority community with false promises and blamed him for inflaming communal tensions, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pratapgarhi stated that Kejriwal used the Muslim community merely as a vote bank, without providing them any responsible positions in the AAP.

“Not a single Muslim from Delhi or Punjab was made a Rajya Sabha MP under AAP’s leadership,” Pratapgarhi said, emphasising the party’s failure to include Muslims in significant roles.

Pratapgarhi also criticised Kejriwal’s silence on key incidents that impacted the Muslim community, stating that the AAP chief’s inaction had exacerbated tensions.

“Why Kejriwal remained silent on communal riots in Jahangirpuri and North East Delhi? As the CM of Delhi, he neither visited the riot-affected areas nor made any public statements to console the victims. What steps did he take to rebuild trust in those areas?” he asked.

Pratapgarhi also expressed concern over AAP’s failure to take a firm stance on the Bilkis Bano case. “Why did Manish Sisodia remain silent on Bilkis Bano case? AAP did not take a clear stand on this issue, raising serious concerns over their commitment to minorities,” he said.

Further criticising Kejriwal, Pratapgarhi recalled the Shaheen Bagh protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), where Kejriwal’s remarks over removing protesters angered the minority community.

Pratapgarhi also accused Kejriwal of contributing to the divisiveness surrounding the Nizamuddin Markaz during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Your government’s handling of the Nizamuddin Markaz issue created division during the pandemic, blaming one community for the spread of the virus. This divisive narrative was harmful and damaging. What actions did Kejriwal take to unite the people and counter this narrative?” Pratapgarhi asked.

Pratapgarhi also criticised AAP for granting ticket to MLA Naresh Yadav, despite his conviction for desecrating the Quran Sharif.

“When AAP MLA Naresh Yadav desecrated the Quran Sharif and was sentenced by the court, why did AAP give him a ticket for the upcoming elections? Did the party take any action to hold him accountable for his actions?” he questioned, highlighting the party’s failure to address accountability within its ranks.

Pratapgarhi concluded by stating that the minority community feels let down by the Kejriwal government and expressed confidence that their anger would be evident at the polls. “Muslim voters will choose the Congress to bring about real change and ensure they are treated with respect and fairness,” he said.