GIA Conference Marks 4th Anniversary of Delhi Riots: Calls for Justice and Awareness Against Information Warfare

In the era of information warfare, where conflicts transcend physical battles, Advocate Monika Arora highlights how societal divisions hollow out the nation without a single shot fired.

On the fourth anniversary of the Delhi Riots 2020, the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA) convened a conference focused on “Justice for Delhi Riots 2020: Prevention, Rehabilitation & Compensation” at the Nalanda Hall, Ambedkar International Center. Notable figures such as Deepak Mishra, former special commissioner of Delhi Police, SN Dhingra, former judge of the Delhi High Court, and BS Bassi, former commissioner of Delhi, graced the event. Additionally, nearly 50 victims of the Delhi riots participated in a Moot Court held concurrently.

The conference commenced with a discussion on the backdrop and events of the 2020 North East Delhi riots, spurred by opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019. Justice SN Srivastava, a former judge of the Allahabad High Court, delved into the underlying causes, attributing them to the diminishing influence of the post-partition Islamic regime in India. He proposed that addressing the injustices faced by the Hindu community could be achieved with the support of retired military personnel.

Nupur J Sharma, Chief Editor of OpIndia, shed light on the partial oversight of evidence related to the Delhi riots by the Indian judiciary. She raised concerns about forum shopping and bench-fixing within the judicial system. Victims of the Delhi riots shared testimonies of false charges, accusations, and subsequent denial of compensation. The conversation extended to the Sandeshkali issue in West Bengal, emphasizing the critical need for awareness of such sensitive matters. Nirmal Kaur, IPS (Retd.), former Director General of Police, Jharkhand, underscored the importance of remembering such instances.

Deepak Mishra highlighted the role of the police in handling riots and stressed the importance of adhering to the law. Justice SN Dhingra emphasized government accountability and the collective responsibility of citizens, urging cooperation with law enforcement and advocating for self-defense training. BN Bassi, IPS, further highlighted police accountability and the necessity for citizen awareness.

The conference concluded with the release of a report on Information Warfare by GIA. A moment of silence was observed to honor the victims of the Delhi Riots 2020 before the session’s closure.

Advocate Monika Arora, convenor of GIA, underscored the emerging threat of Information Warfare, attributing communal tensions to radical and extremist forces. She also addressed issues such as the farmer’s protest, regional divides, and pre-election violence, advocating for reliance on credible sources of news and information.