New Delhi: Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Somnath Bharti were among scores of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members who were detained by the Delhi police on Tuesday as they gathered at the Patel Chowk amid a call to “gherao” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence to protest against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s detention in the liquor policy case.
The AAP was not granted permission to hold any protests, ANI reported, quoting Delhi police sources.
Delhi police also made an announcements outside the Patel Chowk Metro station asking AAP supporters to clear the area, where Section 144 had been imposed, in 5 minutes as there is no permission for protests.
Section 144 (of the CrPC) has also been imposed around the PM’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg and security beefed up in several other parts of the national capital. Traffic diversions have also been put in place at seven points, with an advisory stating that no vehicle will be allowed to halt or park anywhere on Tughlak Road, Safdarjung Road and Kemal Ataturk Marg.
“It is very unfortunate that the entire Delhi has been turned into a ‘police state’ by the BJP. Nobody is allowed to protest here in Delhi, and AAP workers are being arrested. Besides, efforts are being made to seal the AAP’s office (in Delhi). The BJP will have to answer to the public over CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest,” said Delhi Minister Gopal Rai when asked about police barricading outside AAP’s office.
Meanwhile, water cannons were used to disperse BJP workers at Feroz Shah Kotla as they took out a mega march demanding Kejriwal’s resignation, calling his ‘work from jail’ plan a sham.
Kejriwal has been arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged money laundering in the Delhi excise policy case. He has been remanded to the central agency’s custody till March 28.
