NEW DELHI — The ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi has finally broken its silence and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “engineering” the February riots in the city that had left 53 people dead — mostly Muslims — and some 200 others injured.

AAP parliamentarian Sanjay Singh on Sunday alleged that the saffron party had planned a “deep conspiracy” in the run-up to the Delhi assembly polls.

He made these accusations during a press conference about disagreements between Lt. Governor Anil Baijal and the AAP government over the appointment of public prosecutors (PPs) for the Delhi riots cases, a report in clarionindia.net said on Monday.

Singh said the riots were organized by the BJP after hatching a conspiracy. “I said this in parliament as well that the BJP organized the riots. And the police coming under the home ministry, did not take any action.”

The lt. governor had named six PPs on the recommendation of the Delhi Police to argue in the cases.

AAP has been at the receiving end of criticism by activists for maintaining silence on Delhi riots. The party leaders have been under fire also for not visiting affected families in the days after the bloody violence.

Singh’s charges against the BJP are a departure from the position the party had taken, including its silence on the questionable police investigation into the riots.

He said: “The police are not filing charge sheets in some cases, weak charge sheets in some, strong in some, writing extra things in some cases, hiding the truth in some.” Singh alleged that the BJP was appointing its own lawyers to “suppress the dark deeds and shield the dark faces.”

“This is why the BJP government and the L-G are so desperate to get those lawyers appointed. We have lodged our protest. We want unbiased investigation and a fair trial. Even courts have pulled up the police in the recent past,” Singh was quoted as saying in Indian Express.

The presser came after the L-G House issued a statement on Sunday in response to the reports of friction with the AAP government is beyond doubt that the PP represents the state by virtue of his office. At the same time, he is also an officer of the court and is required to render assistance to the court to arrive at a just and equitable decision... there is no reason to imagine that the PPs appointed wouldn’t perform their duty fearlessly and impartially as officers of the court,” the statement had said.

“However, in case of difference of opinion between the Lt. Governor and his ministers, he is not bound by the said aid and advice and can invoke the proviso to Article 239AA (4) of the Constitution,” say officials in the L-G House.

Singh was accompanied by party legislator Somnath Bharti at the press conference. He said: “Why do they want lawyers who would work as spokespersons of the BJP in court? The appointment of PPs in every criminal case is an exclusive right of the Delhi government.” — Agencies