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Indian Prime Minister Appeals for Calm After Deadly Riots Wrack New Delhi

Anjana Pasricha

   NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is appealing for calm
   after three days of deadly clashes between Hindus and Muslim groups in
   the Indian capital left at least 23 people dead and more than 200
   injured.

   The rioting that wracked a neighborhood on the fringes of the city were
   the worst witnessed in New Delhi in recent decades and coincided with a
   visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to India. The clashes erupted
   between supporters and opponents of a new citizenship law but quickly
   deteriorated into communal rioting.

   Armed police patrolled the area on Wednesday. Doctors said those who
   died had gunshot and stab wounds or head injuries incurred from jumping
   from heights -- probably to escape rampaging mobs armed with stones,
   iron rods and even guns.

   In a tweet Prime Minister Modi said "Peace and harmony are central to
   our ethos. I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Delhi to maintain
   peace and brotherhood at all times. It is important that there is calm
   and normalcy is restored at the earliest."

     Peace and harmony are central to our ethos. I appeal to my sisters
     and brothers of Delhi to maintain peace and brotherhood at all
     times. It is important that there is calm and normalcy is restored
     at the earliest.
     -- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) [1]February 26, 2020

   The appeal came as opposition leaders attacked the government for
   failing to control the spiraling violence in the streets of the Indian
   capital, less than 20 kilometers away from where Modi and Trump held
   talks on Tuesday.

   Although tensions are still running high, an uneasy calm prevailed on
   Wednesday. Some Muslim families could be seen leaving the riot-affected
   areas that presented a scene of devastation.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1232581653916155912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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