Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mar 26: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers on Tuesday burnt effigies of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also held a candle light march in protest against the arrest of their leader Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate, while in a counter offensive the BJP burnt the effigies of the Delhi chief minister demanding his resignation following the ED arrest.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, accused the Chief Minister of indulging in corruption, saying several scams are set to unfold in the coming days with his arrest. “Till now, Kejriwal has been arrested only in the liquor scam. The probe agencies are already investigating corruption in the Delhi Jal Board, electricity subsidy scam, and many other cases. Kejriwal is reaping the result of his actions,” Mr Bidhuri said.
The AAP leaders and workers took to the streets against Mr Kejriwal’s arrest with many being detained at Patel Chowk as they tried to march towards the prime minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg raising slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Kejriwal Zindabad.” Claiming that the Delhi Police has turned the national capital into a “fortress,” the AAP Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai told a press conference that the way the BJP-led central government has imposed restrictions under section 144 “across the city,” it seems Delhi has become a “police state.”
Mr Rai asserted that the fight against the “dictatorship” in the country is the struggle of those who love democracy and the Constitution, and announced that preparations are now underway for a “maharally” at the Ramleela ground here on March 31. The AAP also organised a candlelight march in Kalkaji which was led by Delhi Cabinet Minister and senior party leader Atishi.
Mr Rai said lakhs of people would be present and prominent leaders of the INDIA bloc would raise their voice against Mr Kejriwal’s arrest at the Ramleela maidan rally, Mr Rai said. The bloc was formed by some opposition parties, including the AAP, the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Samajwadi Party, to counter the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.
The AAP supremo Mr Kejriwal was arrested in connection with a money laundering case related to Delhi Excise policy on March 21 by the ED and was remanded in custody till March 28 by a Delhi court. Delhi Minister Gopal Rai had earlier announced plans to “gherao” the Prime Minister’s residence on Tuesday to protest against Mr Kejriwal’s arrest. Mr Rai had also said “mega protests” would be held nationwide.
Security has been beefed around metro stations in central Delhi and additional security personnel has been deployed. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, in a post on X said entry and exit gates at Lok Kalyan Marg metro station have been closed due to security reasons. Entry and exit have also been restricted at Patel Chowk and Central Secretariat metro stations, it added.
DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar said, “there is no permission given to hold any kind of protest, we also got information that protesters will gather at Patel Chowk metro station, security has been beefed around the area.” Senior AAP leader Somnath Bharti, Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla and Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains were among those detained by police.
“The BJP-led central government is targeting everyone who is honest so that it can save the corrupt,” Kavita, one of the protesters, said. Bharti in a post on X said he has been detained by police along with Rakhi Birla. “Delhi Police for no rhyme or reason along with Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla and many volunteers of AAP and supporters of Arvind Kejriwal Ji. It’s shocking to see that while the Delhi Police are arresting peacefully protesting AAP supporters, they are doing nothing to stop @BJP4India,” Bharti posted.
In parts of central Delhi, security personnel in anti-riot gear were deployed. The DCP said that those found protesting will be detained. “Proper security arrangements have been made around PM residence and metro station, we also have to ensure smooth traffic movement for commuters,” DCP said.
Section 144 CrPC has already been imposed around the PM residence, which doesn’t allow any protest to take place, an officer said. Delhi police has put diversions in seven points of national capital since traffic movement is likely to be affected in both parts of New Delhi and central Delhi.