BJP trying to replicate ‘Gujarat model of riots’

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday alleged that the violence in north east Delhi was "state-sponsored genocide" and the BJP was trying to replicate the "Gujarat model of riots" across the country.

"I am deeply pained by the killing of innocent people in Delhi. I think it was genocide... the violence in Delhi was state-sponsored," Mamata said addressing a Trinamool Congress event at the Netaji Subhash Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.

Mamata claimed it was due to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that "so many people were killed" in the Delhi violence".

"The BJP is trying to replicate the Gujarat model of riots across India, including in West Bengal," the chief minister said, adding that the party should apologise.

Gujarat had witnessed protracted riots in 2002 that left at least 1,000 people dead following the killing of 56 Hindu pilgrims when a train carrying them was returning from Ayodhya.

The issue of riots in north east Delhi which killed 42 people last week also set off an uproar in Indian parliament yesterday with opposition lawmakers demanding the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah over the violence.

As parliament resumed its budget session yesterday after a three-week break, slogan-shouting opposition MPs demanded a discussion on the violence in the Lok Sabha.

Speaker Om Birla said the situation was "not appropriate" for such a discussion.  "We will wait for the situation to improve and then allow a discussion," he said but finally had to adjourn the house as opposition members refused to relent.

In the Rajya Sabha, chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House for the day amid repeated slogan shouting by oppositeion Congress, Left, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party lawmakers.