Delhi violence: Sharad Pawar said BJP leaders provoked tension ahead of Delhi polls.
The central government is "100 per cent" responsible for the Delhi violence, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said in Mumbai on Sunday, accusing the ruling BJP of divisive politics in the national capital after losing the assembly elections.
Addressing an NCP convention, Mr Pawar also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his speeches in the run-up to the Delhi polls.
"As per Constitution, public representatives and the ruling party are not responsible for the law and order situation in Delhi. That responsibility lies with the Union government. Hence whatever is happening in Delhi, its 100 per cent responsibility lies with the union government, as it is responsible for law and order," Mr Pawar said.
The recent violence in northeast Delhi claimed at least 46 lives and left over 200 injured.
"The national capital has been burning since the last few days. The ruling party at the centre could not win the Delhi Assembly polls and tried to divide the society by promoting communalism," he said.
He said the electoral campaign of the Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah and other central ministers was aimed at creating a rift in the society and hurting religious harmony.
"The prime minister of a country belongs to all the religions, people and states. He belongs to the entire country. The person in such post indirectly making statements (aimed at) creating a religious discord (in his poll speech) is a worrisome thing," he said, adding that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other ministers also made similar speeches.
Mr Pawar said that instead of using their power to ensure safety of people, some BJP ministers are making statements like "Goli Maaro" (shoot them) and trying to terrorise a section of the society.
"This is highly condemnable," he added.