Anti-CAA violence: Chidambaram slams ‘insensitive’, ‘shortsighted’ leaders

Condemning the violence in Delhi, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said people are paying the price for putting in power "insensitive and shortsighted" leaders.

In a series of tweets, he said the amendment to the CAA should be abandoned forthwith and the government should listen to the voices of the anti-CAA protesters by keeping the CAA in abeyance till the Supreme Court gave its verdict.

A head constable was among seven people killed and at least 50 others, including several paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel, were injured as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi on Monday.

Frenzied protesters torched houses, shops, vehicles and a petrol pump, besides hurling stones.

Chidambaram said the violence in Delhi on Monday and the loss of lives are most shocking and deserve the strongest condemnation. "The people are paying the price for putting in power insensitive and shortsighted leaders," he said.

The Congress leader said his party had warned that CAA was "deeply divisive" and should be repealed or abandoned. "Our warning fell on deaf ears," he said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called an urgent meeting of MLAs and officials from the violence-hit areas.