Delhi Police Calls 2020 Delhi Riots a Planned 'Regime Change Operation' in Supreme Court Affidavit
Delhi Police has claimed in a Supreme Court affidavit that the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots were a premeditated 'regime change operation' aimed at destabilizing India. The affidavit states the violence was strategically planned to exploit dissent against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), coinciding with then-US President Donald Trump's India visit to damage the country's global image. Bail pleas of accused activists have been opposed on this ground.
In a significant development, the Delhi Police submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court asserting that the February 2020 Northeast Delhi riots were not spontaneous but a meticulously planned 'regime change operation.' The police allege the violence was designed to weaponize public dissent against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and aimed to harm India's sovereignty, internal harmony, and international reputation. The protests were timed deliberately with former US President Donald Trump's visit to India to attract global attention and portray India negatively. As per the affidavit, the CAA controversy was strategically exploited to fuel radicalization disguised as peaceful protest. The Delhi Police has opposed bail pleas of student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others accused under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), highlighting their role in inciting communal violence through inflammatory speeches and mass mobilization. The Supreme Court has directed Delhi Police to file counter-affidavits without delay, with hearings ongoing. The riots resulted in 53 deaths and over 700 injuries, marking one of the deadliest communal incidents tied to protests against CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The police's stance underscores their view that the violence was a coordinated conspiracy threatening India's constitutional integrity and peace.
