New Delhi, March 12 Congress leader Anand Sharma on Thursday demanded a probe into failure on part of intelligence agencies in gathering information over whether there was a "conspiracy" that led to the anti-CAA riots in northeast Delhi that killed 53 people.
"There was mishandling of situation by the administration. It should also be probed. There should be a judicial commission and the probe should be fair," he said in the Rajya Sabha.
The Congress leader said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday had said that there was a huge conspiracy behind the riots. Sharma said, "If there was huge conspiracy as said by the home minister then it was also an intelligence failure. It should also be probed on a serious note why there was intelligence failure."
Sharma also pointed that India does not need private forces like Ram Sena or Popular Front of India (PFI). "Book them whoever is guilty in riots. We have an army. We have police forces," he said.
He also questioned the government's intention and why the Prime Minister remained silent when riots took place. "Why did he not say something on the same day when the rioting started," Sharma said.
"It would have been better if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken on the day when the riots started."
"People who were killed were citizens of India. From children to senior citizens, they all were killed. This is not in our culture. It is big blot on Indian democracy and culture," said Sharma, adding that India's image was damaged internationally.
"India's diversity is its strength. Why do people want to divide this country?" he said.
"Politics and religion is a poisonous mixture and it needs to be looked upon. Citizenship Amendment Act lacks Constitutional morality. People have approached Supreme Court. I would not like to comment on this," Sharma said.
He however lauded that even in tough times humanity did not die. "People from different communities came forward to save each other," he said.
"The government is run on trust. The government's silence over the Delhi riots has breached the people's trust. I fail to understand how the government will earn back the people's trust," he said.
( With inputs from IANS )