Tahir Hussain convicted in Ankit Sharma murder case; BJP launches fresh attack on AAP, Congress
The conviction of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain in the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots has reignited the political battle over one of the most controversial episodes in the capital. Soon after the Delhi court delivered its verdict on Monday, the BJP accused the AAP and the Congress of backing those allegedly involved in the violence, while AAP distanced itself from Hussain and said it had severed ties with him years ago.
A Delhi court convicted Hussain and four others in connection with Sharma's killing during the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020. Six other accused were acquitted in the same case.
The verdict immediately triggered sharp political exchanges, with the BJP describing the conviction as proof of what it called the opposition's support for those accused in the riots.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the court's decision was not merely a conviction of an individual but reflected what he described as the role of the "AAP-Congress ecosystem" during the 2020 violence. He alleged that the riots were a planned attack rather than a spontaneous outbreak of violence and accused AAP leaders of defending Hussain after the riots by portraying him as a victim.
Poonawalla also claimed that several opposition leaders had extended support to other accused in the Delhi riots cases, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, alleging that political considerations had shaped their public stance.
Responding to the BJP's allegations, AAP said Hussain had no connection with the party since February 27, 2020, when he was suspended from its primary membership shortly after an FIR was registered against him.
The party also noted that Hussain later contested the Delhi Assembly elections as a candidate of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). According to AAP, his candidature from the Muslim-majority Mustafabad constituency divided minority votes and ultimately benefited the BJP candidate.
Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra welcomed the verdict and demanded that former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal publicly apologise. He alleged that AAP had maintained links with individuals whom he described as anti-national activists.
Delhi minister and Karawal Nagar MLA Kapil Mishra also reacted to the judgment, alleging that the 2020 riots were part of a larger conspiracy aimed at targeting Hindus. He questioned why AAP leaders had allegedly defended Hussain during the period and claimed the former councillor remained in touch with party leaders while the violence unfolded.
BJP MLA and Delhi government spokesperson Harish Khurana echoed the criticism, alleging that the AAP leadership attempted to shield Hussain despite the allegations against him. He also pointed out that Hussain was an AAP councillor when the riots took place.
The exchange comes a day after AAP launched a signature campaign seeking strict action over its allegations of donation irregularities linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The 2020 northeast Delhi riots claimed more than 50 lives and left hundreds injured, becoming one of the deadliest episodes of communal violence in the national capital. The killing of IB staffer Ankit Sharma emerged as one of the most closely watched cases arising from the riots, with Monday's conviction marking a significant development in the long-running legal proceedings.
With PTI inputs