High drama in Delhi as AAP, BJP hold protests
AAP leaders detained after trying to march to PM’s residence protesting Kejriwal’s arrest Section 144 imposed around Lok Kalyan Marg; HC to hear the CM’s petition against ED arrest today At least 57 BJP protesters detained as they head for Secretariat, de
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday staged protests at opposite ends of central Delhi. While AAP leaders and workers took to the streets against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the excise policy case, the BJP protesters sought Mr. Kejriwal’s resignation.
The AAP leaders, including Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Somnath Bharti, were detained as they attempted to march towards the Prime Minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg.
According to the Delhi Police, security was stepped up around Metro stations in central Delhi. DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar said, “No permission was given for any kind of protest. Security has been intensified around the area as we also got information that protesters will gather at the Patel Chowk Metro station.”
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) banning assembly has already been imposed around the Prime Minister’s residence, an officer said. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, in a post on ◣ said the entry and exit gates at the Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station have been closed due to security reasons.
Entry and exit have also been restricted at the Patel Chowk and Central Secretariat Metro stations, it added.
At least 57 BJP protesters, including the party’s Delhi chief Virenda Sachdeva, were detained as party workers and leaders gathered near the Arun Jaitley Stadium and marched towards the Delhi Secretariat, demanding
Mr. Kejriwal’s resignation. The police said some BJP workers climbed over barricades during their march.
“Water cannons were used to disperse the protesters. Some of them were detained when they tried to break through a layer of barricades,” a police officer said. In parts of central Delhi, security personnel equipped with antiriot gear were deployed to ensure law and order.
Mr. Kejriwal was remanded in the ED custody till March 28 by a court. The Delhi High Court will on Wednesday hear the Chief Minister’s petition against the ED arrest.
The petition, which has sought his immediate release on the ground that his arrest and the subsequent remand was “illegal”, is listed before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma at 10.30 a.m.
The Chief Minister, meanwhile, issued directions to his government to ensure that medicines and testing facilities are available to people at all government hospitals and Mohalla Clinics, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj told presspersons at a press conference.
This is the second such direction by the Chief Minister from the ED custody. On Sunday, he asked his government to make arrangements for water tankers to help people cope with summer shortage in the city.
‘Misusing forces’
AAP leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai lashed out at the BJPled Central government for “misusing” the police and paramilitary forces, saying, “I would like to say this to the Central government that you cannot stop this movement using your police force. Our voice is reaching the entire country. There will be a mega rally by the INDIA bloc [against Mr. Kejriwal’s arrest] on March 31 at the Ramlila Maidan. Prominent leaders from the Opposition’s alliance from across the nation will join this rally.”
The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to respond to a plea seeking the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces to protect Delhi’s forests from illegal activities or encroachment by land grabbers. The plea was filed by environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari.
The High Court’s March 20 direction came on a plea by Ms. Kandhari seeking a direction to the Central government to post an adequate number of CAPF personnel with Principal Chief Conservator of Forests on an urgent basis to aid and to protect the lives of the frontline forestry staff.
Ms. sought
After the Centre responds on deploying CAPF, the court will hear the case on May 3
Kandhari directions to also safeguard the reserved and protected forests of Delhi.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests told the court that forest officials were facing constant threats from land grabbers and mafia who make rampant encroachment on forest land. The official added that a proposal has been made for engaging the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in forest areas.
However, the counsel for the Centre stated that the CISF cannot be deployed because the rules do not allow it.