Investigation – BJP Targets AAP After Tahir Hussain Conviction in Ankit Sharma Case

Investigation – The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday intensified its attack on the Aam Aadmi Party after a Delhi court convicted former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The verdict triggered sharp political exchanges, with the BJP accusing both the AAP and the Congress of extending support to individuals accused in the violence. The court convicted Hussain along with four others, while six accused were acquitted in the same case.

BJP Leaders Criticise AAP Following Court Verdict

Reacting to the judgment, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that senior AAP leaders had defended Hussain for political reasons. In a post on social media platform X, Bhandari claimed that Hussain had received support from the party despite the serious allegations against him. He further accused AAP leaders of pursuing what he described as vote-bank politics and asserted that the public would remember their stand during the aftermath of the 2020 riots.

Allegations Extend to Congress

Another BJP national spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla, also welcomed the court’s decision and described it as a significant development. In a video statement, he alleged that the conviction reflected on what he called the wider political ecosystem involving both the AAP and the Congress. Poonawalla further claimed that Hussain had been projected as a victim after the riots despite facing criminal proceedings. Both parties have previously rejected similar allegations made by the BJP.

AAP Highlights Immediate Suspension

Responding to the BJP’s criticism, the Aam Aadmi Party stated that Hussain had been suspended from the party’s primary membership shortly after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him in connection with the 2020 riots. According to the party, Hussain has had no association with AAP since that disciplinary action was taken, and it maintained that he has not represented the party during the legal proceedings that followed.

Delhi BJP Demands Public Apology

Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra said the court’s ruling reinforced questions that had been raised about the AAP’s past association with Hussain. He called on former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to issue a public apology, alleging that the party had maintained links with individuals whose actions later came under legal scrutiny. Malhotra also repeated the BJP’s position that the 2020 northeast Delhi riots were not spontaneous but part of a planned episode of violence.

Kapil Mishra Repeats Earlier Claims

Delhi Tourism Minister and Karawal Nagar MLA Kapil Mishra also commented on the judgment, describing the 2020 violence as a pre-planned conspiracy. He alleged that the riots were intended to target members of the Hindu community and questioned the relationship between Hussain and senior AAP leaders during that period. Mishra claimed that Hussain remained in contact with party figures while the violence unfolded, though these allegations have been disputed by the AAP.

Political Debate Continues After Verdict

The conviction has once again brought the 2020 northeast Delhi riots back into political focus, with the BJP using the court’s decision to renew its criticism of the AAP and the Congress. While the ruling party has described the judgment as validation of its long-standing allegations, the AAP has reiterated that Hussain was removed from the party immediately after the criminal case was registered and has not been associated with the organisation since then. The verdict is expected to remain a subject of political debate as legal proceedings in other riot-related cases continue.