Padmavati row: Arvind Kejriwal attacked BJP government for attack on Gurgaon school bus
Highlights
- Arvind Kejriwal "couldn't sleep all night" after mob attack on school bus
- Mr Kejriwal said the attack, before Republic Day, was a "matter of shame"
- He said forces who killed Muslims, burnt Dalits now coming after children
Claiming that he "couldn't sleep all night" on learning of the mob attack on a school bus in Gurgaon during Padmaavat protests, Arvind Kejriwal said today that the forces "that killed Muslims and burnt Dalits are now coming after our children."
The Delhi Chief Minister said it was a "matter of shame" for the nation that school children were attacked just a few kilometres from the national capital before Republic Day celebrations.
"I appeal to everyone. We cannot afford to remain silent anymore. They killed Muslims, burnt Dalits alive, thrashed them. Today, they have started pelting our children with stones, have started intruding into our homes. Don't remain silent now, speak up," Mr Kejriwal said in a speech during an event to mark Republic Day tomorrow.
"It is the land of Rama, Krishna, Gautam Budhha, Mahavira, Guru Nanak, Kabir and Meera, followers of Prophet Mohammad and Jesus Christ. I want to ask whether the people who hurled stones were Hindus, Muslims or Christians. Which religion preaches violence against children?"
Little children of the GD Goenka World School kneeled down on the floor and held their teachers to escape stones thrown at their bus at the Sohna Road yesterday afternoon. The children cried in fear as the goons - around 60 of them - struck the bus with sticks in an attempt to force the bus to stop. The protesters were blocking the road and had burnt a state-run bus just seconds before.
A video captured the frightening moments for the children and teachers, who were on their way home when their bus was caught in protests against "Padmaavat", which released today. Groups protesting the film allege that it insults Rajput pride and distorts the story of 14th century Queen Padmavati, who was coveted by Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji but preferred to die rather than be captured by him.
"I couldn't sleep the entire night.... People here love their country and want peace and love. I request the powers at the Centre (
Hukum marano), please spare us," said Mr Kejriwal, adding that the attackers should be given punishment "harsher than Lord Rama's punishment to Ravana."