Matter of national shame: Manmohan Singh on Delhi violence

"We called upon the President of India to suggest to him that what has happened in the last four days in the national capital of India is a matter of grave concern and also a matter of national shame..." Singh, a Congress veteran, said.

Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi along with a host of senior party leaders including Singh met President Ram Nath Kovind and submitted a memorandum over the riot which has left more than 200 people injured.

Gandhi outside the President's House blamed the "inaction" of the Home Minister and the central government for the riots which went on for 48 hours in northeast Delhi between Monday morning and Tuesday night.

In the letter, which was read out by Gandhi, the Congress said, "Due to the complete inaction on the part of the Home Minister and the central government, the violence has claimed the lives of at least 34 (now 35) people and over 200 have been injured at last count.

Several crores of properties and business have fallen prey to unchecked arson and looting."

"Rashtrapati ji, you are given the highest possible responsibility under the Constitution of India to act as the conscious-keeper of this government and to remind it of its constitutional duties and the pillar of rajdharm by which any government must abide."

Gandhi's Congress party has also urged the President to remove the Home Minister from his office for his "abdication of duty" and "inability to contain the situation".

The riot was preceded by a clash between the supporters and protestors of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which aims to grant citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi but not Muslim refugees who came to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan due to religious persecution before 2015.