AAP Leader Accuses BJP of Political Manipulation in Delhi Riots Case

In a heated exchange, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP of attempting to shift blame for the 2020 Delhi riots onto his party following the conviction of former councillor Tahir Hussain. Bhardwaj asserted that Hussain had prior political ties with the BJP and that AAP acted swiftly to expel him after the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma. The BJP, however, claims that AAP leaders provided protection to Hussain during the riots. This ongoing political feud highlights the complexities of accountability and political maneuvering in the aftermath of the riots.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 31, 2026, 21:50 IST

Allegations Against BJP and AAP

Saurabh Bhardwaj, the head of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, claimed on Friday that Tahir Hussain, a former party councillor sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma, was 'indirectly working for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).' Bhardwaj dismissed BJP's accusations that AAP was responsible for the communal riots in Northeast Delhi in February 2020, asserting that Hussain had political ties with the BJP prior to the riots. He noted that AAP expelled Hussain from the party as soon as an FIR was filed against him in the Sharma murder case. Bhardwaj further alleged that while AAP took action against Hussain, the BJP continued to support its leaders facing serious allegations related to the riots.

BJP's Response to the Conviction

In response to Hussain's conviction, Harsh Malhotra, president of the BJP's Delhi unit, accused AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, of providing 'protection' to Hussain during the riots. Malhotra stated that the court's ruling against Hussain serves as evidence that AAP leaders incited the riots. He remarked, 'Today, the court has sentenced AAP leader Tahir Hussain to life imprisonment for inciting riots and the brutal murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma. This reveals the true face of the Aam Aadmi Party.'

Political Connections and Allegations

Bhardwaj countered by reiterating that Hussain had connections with the BJP before the riots, claiming that BJP leader Kapil Mishra had assisted Hussain in securing a councillor ticket, facilitating his rise in local politics. He also alleged that the location from which stones and weapons were reportedly recovered during the 2020 riots was previously Mishra's office. Bhardwaj accused Hussain of contesting the Mustafabad assembly elections on an All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) ticket to benefit the BJP politically, asserting that Hussain campaigned and addressed gatherings without the necessary permissions.