‘Unfair, one sided and manufactured investigation’, say over 700 activists in letter to CM over Delhi riots

More than 700 activists have written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal raising concern over investigation in violence during the riots in North East Delhi by Delhi police and special crime branch. In this violence about 53 people were killed, many injured and many more were displaced.

The investigation appears to be an “unfair, one sided and manufactured” investigation, the letter reads.

“We request you to order an independent investigation under a retired judge of suitable stature with a time bound mandate.”

“We are committed to ensure punishment to those guilty of the violence and we believe an independent inquiry will help such a process,” the activists have said in the letter.

Here is the full text of the letter:

25th August, 2020

To,

The Chief Minister,

Delhi Government,

Dear Shri Kejriwal ji

We, citizens living in various parts of India have been following with grave disquiet and concern, reports of the ongoing investigation into the Delhi violence by the Delhi police and the Special Crime cell. The investigation appears to be an “unfair, one sided and manufactured” investigation. We know that citizens of the National Capital have written to you asking for an independent probe into the violence. We write to you endorsing the demand. We request you to order an independent investigation under a retired judge of suitable stature with a time bound mandate. The terms of reference should include various aspects of the violence. We are committed to ensure punishment to those guilty of the violence and we believe an independent inquiry will help such a process. Since this letter is digitally endorsed please consider it signed by all of us whose names are given below.

Wajahat Habeebullah, Brinda Karat, Harsh Mandar, Irfan Habib, Ashok Dhawale, Admiral Ramdas, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, P. Sainath, Anand Patwardhan, Prakash Raj, Shabnam Hashmi, Arun Khote, Claude Alvares, Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar

Kumar Ketkar, Manoj Mitta, Saibal Chatterjee, Sanjoy Hazarika, Shantha Sinha, Vimal Thorat, Irfan Engineer, Subhashini Ali

On behalf of 749 activists