The Politics of Blame: Kejriwal, Hussain, and the Specter of Division
There’s something deeply unsettling about the way political spats in India often devolve into a game of blame, especially when lives have been lost and communities shattered. The recent exchange between Arvind Kejriwal and Amit Malviya over Tahir Hussain’s conviction in the 2020 Delhi riots case is a prime example. On the surface, it’s a typical political skirmish—accusations fly, parties distance themselves, and the public is left to decipher the truth. But if you take a step back and think about it, this isn’t just about one man’s conviction or another’s political survival. It’s about the toxic undercurrents of Indian politics that thrive on division, deflection, and the exploitation of tragedy.
The Kejriwal-Malviya Spat: More Than Meets the Eye
When Kejriwal accused Malviya of linking him to Tahir Hussain, a former AAP leader convicted of murder, it wasn’t just a defensive move. Personally, I think Kejriwal’s response—hinting at Hussain’s alleged ties to Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM—was a calculated jab. What makes this particularly fascinating is how it exposes the broader strategy of political parties to shift blame and muddy the waters. Kejriwal’s reference to AIMIM as a ‘sister organization’ of the BJP’s ‘chanda chor party’ isn’t just a witty retort; it’s a reflection of how parties like AIMIM are often portrayed as spoilers in the Muslim vote bank. What many people don’t realize is that this narrative conveniently distracts from the real issues at hand: the failure of leadership during the riots and the systemic issues that allowed them to escalate.
Tahir Hussain: A Convenient Scapegoat?
Tahir Hussain’s conviction in the murder of IB staffer Ankit Sharma is undoubtedly a significant development in the Delhi riots case. But here’s where it gets complicated. Hussain has consistently claimed he was framed, and his emotional breakdown after the verdict suggests a man who believes he’s been made a scapegoat. From my perspective, this raises a deeper question: Are we seeing justice served, or is this another instance of political expediency? The fact that Hussain contested the 2025 elections on an AIMIM ticket adds another layer of intrigue. It’s almost as if his political affiliations have become more important than the truth of what happened in 2020.
The BJP’s Narrative: A Familiar Playbook
The BJP’s response to the conviction has been predictably aggressive, with demands for apologies from Kejriwal and the Congress. One thing that immediately stands out is how the BJP has framed the riots as a consequence of ‘appeasement politics’ by the Congress. This narrative isn’t new, but it’s effective because it taps into existing fault lines. What this really suggests is that the BJP is more interested in scoring political points than in addressing the root causes of the violence. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which sparked the protests that turned into riots, remains a contentious issue, yet the BJP continues to deflect blame rather than engage in meaningful dialogue.
The Human Cost: Lost in the Noise
Amid all the political posturing, it’s easy to forget the human cost of the 2020 Delhi riots. At least 50 people were killed, and countless lives were upended. Ankit Sharma’s murder was a tragedy, but so were the deaths of others caught in the crossfire. A detail that I find especially interesting is how quickly political parties move from mourning to manipulation. The BJP’s demand for an apology from Sonia and Rahul Gandhi feels less like a call for accountability and more like an attempt to delegitimize their opponents. If you take a step back and think about it, this is the real tragedy: politics has become so transactional that even loss of life is reduced to a tool for gaining power.
The Broader Implications: A Nation at a Crossroads
This entire episode is a microcosm of India’s larger political landscape. The way parties like AAP, BJP, and AIMIM are maneuvering around the Delhi riots case reveals a deeper trend: the erosion of trust in institutions and the rise of identity politics. Personally, I think this is a dangerous path. When every issue becomes a battleground for political one-upmanship, the common good suffers. The fact that parties are more focused on blaming each other than on healing divides should worry us all.
Final Thoughts: Beyond the Blame Game
As I reflect on this saga, I’m struck by how little has changed since 2020. The riots were a wake-up call, a reminder of the fragility of our social fabric. Yet, here we are, still trapped in the same cycle of accusation and deflection. In my opinion, the only way forward is to move beyond the politics of blame and address the underlying issues—inequality, polarization, and the failure of leadership. Until then, episodes like the Kejriwal-Malviya spat will continue to dominate our headlines, leaving the real problems unresolved.
What this really suggests is that we, as a society, need to demand more from our leaders. We need accountability, not just apologies. We need unity, not division. And most importantly, we need to remember that behind every political spat are real people, real lives, and real consequences. The question is: Are we willing to make that change?
