In his reply to the Lok Sabha on widely alleged police inaction during the northeast Delhi riots towards the end of February, Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended Delhi Police which comes under his ministry. “I would like to praise the Delhi police for not allowing the riots to spread to other areas," he said in his reply to the discussion on Delhi riots in the House.

This statement stands in huge contrast to national and international media reports, and many videos and phone call recordings doing the rounds on social media that showed the Delhi Police’s inaction, if not abetment, as rioters ran amok in certain parts of northeast Delhi where people, mostly Muslims, and houses, mostly of Muslims, in specific localities were targeted and attacked. More than 50 people lost their lives as rioters armed with guns, swords, iron rods, and sticks created mayhem. Hundreds of vehicles were charred. Many houses, shops were looted and gutted. Videos showed cops hurling stones too.