Delhi HC issues notice in petition to find out "anti-national forces" behind anti-CAA protests

The Delhi High Court today issued notice in a petition seeking a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe to find out the "anti-national" forces behind the protests in connection with the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). (Ajay Gautam vs GNCT of Delhi & Ors).The petition also seeks to find out the source of funding behind the same. It also raises concerns as regards the closure of various roads in the North East area of Delhi..Notice to the Centre and the Delhi Police was issued by a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar. The matter will be heard next on April 30..The petition was been preferred by one Ajay Gautam. The petition queries, .Whether a particular community/section of the society can be permitted to flagrantly violate and infringe fundamental rights of the general public by resorting to such hooliganism and chaos i.e. blocking of public roads, metro stations by them in the garb of their peaceful agitation against enforcement of CAA?Ajay Gautam.The petitioner goes on to contend that Anti-CAA protests have led to large scale violence and destruction of public property. ."...they have resorted to anarchy and have created havoc and chaos in almost every part of the city and country", the petition states..Further it is argued that there are vested interests and "Anti-Hindu forces" involved in carrying on the protests. .The petition states, inter alia, that "the pattern of protest is also very suspicious. Old women and children are being used as main protesters and the men of their community stand behind them and they openly behave as if they are from Palestine or agents of Gulf countries.".Referring to the death of an infant during the protests in Shaheen Bagh, the petitioner also highlights that, "her mother instead of mourning the death of her son, openly shouted that she is ready to sacrifice her another child for this cause.".... it is not a normal protest; it is submitted that anti national and Anti-Hindu forces are behind these protests and some vested interests/parties/countries are funding these protesters."Ajay Gautam.The petitioner also briefly defends the CAA against the apprehensions raised in protests, stating that, .It is pertinent to mention here that aforesaid CAA has absolutely nothing to do with the Muslims who have been living in India; but despite knowing this fact, they have been unnecessarily protesting against it for their vested interests and on being provoked and instigated by Anti-India forces and on many occasions these protesters have shouted pro-Pak slogans.Ajay Gautam.Inter alia, the petitioner has raised objection that persons "accused of sedition charges in different cases and known face of anti Hindu/ anti Ram Mandir thoughts joined the protest since beginning to till now. (sic)" .In this regard, the petition names Kanhiya Kumar, Shashi Tharoor, Mani Shankar Iyer, Digvijya Singh, Chander Shakher Anurag Kashyap, Teesta Seetalwad, Swara Bhaskar and Senior Advocate Salman Khursheed for having provoked the protestors. .While raising anguish over the Delhi riots that took place over the past few days as a fallout of clashes between Anti-CAA protestors and persons rallying in favour of CAA, the petitioner goes on to submit,."... it is clear that what is going on Shaheen Bagh, Seelampur, Jafrabaad, Jheel Khureji , Inder Lok and other places of Delhi is not a normal protest and it is well plan conspiracy against the state , anti national powers are involved behind the protest , funding from illegal sources is coming to run these protest.".The prayers made by Gautam include those for: the evacuation of Anti-CAA protestors, the investigation of anti national forces behind these protests, identification of Anti-India Forces funding and sponsoring the "Anti-India protests" and are openly threatening Prime Minister Narendra Modi, deployment of appropriate security forces to arrest those involved in violence in the name of Anti-CAA protestsregistration of cases against Waris Pathan , Asaduddin Owaisi, Salman Khurshid and other persons for involved in the alleged provocation of protestors.[Read the Petition]