Union minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution Ram Vilas Paswan. ( Picture Credits: ANI)

NEW DELHI: Union minister and BJP ally, Ram Vilas Paswan, termed the recent communal violence in north-east Delhi as a “national blot” on Saturday as he sought quick trial of the cases by fast-track courts to ensure they don’t meet the same fate as the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases which dragged on for years.

He added that the government should make any new law or amend any existing one for faster trials and sentencing in such cases.

Speaking to reporters at his residence after sending a “chaadar” to be offered at Ajmer Sharif dargah, Paswan said, “Can anyone call the riot anything less than a blot on our face when so many people have been killed brutally and residential and commercial blocks were put on fire? All this happened when US President was here. When locals – both Hindus and Muslims - came to rescue of each other, some disruptive elements created the havoc. They have no religion, caste or creed.”

On being asked whether he also demanded action against all those who made hate speeches, Paswan told TOI, “I will not go into the past. There is an investigation going on and I can assure that the investigation will be neutral. Anyone who is responsible for the riots whether it was hate speech or anything else that contributed to the riots will be identified and strictest action must be taken against them. I am confident that all these cases will be tried in fast-track court. There should be no repeat of ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ as it has been in the case of anti-Sikh riots in which people are still waiting for justice.”

The minister claimed that the government is serious and that’s why national security adviser Ajit Doval visited the riot hit areas and assured people of action.

Earlier, Paswan’s son and Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag had demanded action against the perpetrators of the violence and also against BJP leaders - Anurag Thakur and Kapil Mishra - for making provocative speeches.

