AAP workers detained while moving towards PM’s residence, Section 144 imposed
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and workers were detained by the Delhi Police on Tuesday from outside the Patel Chowk Metro Station as they were marching towards.
The Prime Minister’s residence in Lok Kalyan Marg to protest against party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy case.
Delhi Police have imposed Section 144 as there was no permission to stage the protests.
In the wake of the protest, the Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory about restrictions and diversions on key routes, and has also said that vehicles will not be permitted to stop or park anywhere on Tughlak Road, Safdarjung Road and Kemal Ataturk Marg.
Here are the latest developments so far
Aam Aadmi Party leaders and workers were detained from outside the Patel Chowk Metro station where Section 144 have been imposed. Delhi Police told the protesters, “if you do not leave, legal action will be taken” and asked them to clear the area within five minutes.
The ANI news agency said one of the detained leaders was Punjab Minister and AAP leader Harjot Singh Bains.
The party leaders and workers gathered at Patel Chowk area at 10 am. From Patel Chowk, they planned to march towards Prime Minister’s residence via Tughlaq Road. But the Delhi Police did not give permission for the protest.
DCP New Delhi Devesh Kumar Mahla told India Today TV upon receiving information of the AAP protest, Section 144 has been imposed in New Delhi.
“Any kind of protest will not be tolerated. We have significantly increased security. Permission for protest has not been sought and there is proper security arrangement in place,” he added.
In view of the protest, the Delhi Traffic Police (DTP) have issued advisories to warn people against taking certain routes on Tuesday. The DTP has advised people to avoid Kemal Ataturk Marg, Safdarjang Road, Akbar Road and the Teen Murti Marg. It also advised people going to the airport, railway and bus stations to “carefully plan their travel with sufficient time at hand”.
In another advisory, the traffic police also asked people not to park or stop their vehicles on Tughlaq Road, Safdarjang Road and Kemal Ataturk Marg. It said that the general entry of the public will not be permitted in these areas and any violations will result in strict legal action, including towing.
Meanwhile, traffic will be diverted through several points, including Aurobindo Chowk, roundabouts at Samrat Hotel, Gymkhana Post Office, Teen Murti Haifa, Niti Marg, and Kautilya Marg.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Tuesday also announced some restrictions in the wake of the AAP protest.
Taking to social media, the DMRC said entry and exit at the Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station, Patel Chowk Metro Station’s gate 3 and the Central Secretariat Metro station’s gate 5 “will remain closed until further notice”.
“Security Update… Due to security reasons, entry/exit at Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station, Gate no 3 of Patel Chowk Metro Station and Gate no 5 of Central Secretariat Metro station will remain closed till further notice,” the DMRC said in a tweet.
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj addressed a press conference on Tuesday during which he read out a letter sent by the Delhi Chief Minister from ED custody. He said “Kejriwal’s order is like God’s order”.
He said, “Arvind Kejriwal feels that people’s problems should not increase due to being in custody. He wants the people of Delhi to get free medicines, free tests.”
The AAP leader also said that the party convenor “used to constantly ask people to visit hospitals. Arvind Kejriwal is worried about the absence of Mohalla clinics and medicine. He has ordered that medicines and tests should be provided free of cost in Mohalla clinics.”
A day before the protest, the AAP launched a social media campaign, under which all the party leaders, MLAs and workers changed their social media DPs to the one that reads ‘Modi ka sabse bada darr-Kejriwal’ (Modi’s biggest fear is Kejriwal).
Announcing the campaign on Monday, Delhi Minister Atishi said, “There is a photo of Arvind Kejriwal in the DP while he is seen behind bars.”
“Today, the Aam Aadmi Party is starting a DP campaign on social media across the country to convey this feeling of fear in Prime Minister Narendra Modi to every home, and to spread the spark of Arvind Kejriwal to every home,” she told reporters in Delhi.
Tuesday’s AAP protest comes ahead of the Opposition INDIA bloc’s planned mega rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on March 31 against Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest.
AAP leader Gopal Rai said,”All the INDIA-bloc parties will hold this ‘maha rally’ to safeguard the country’s interests and democracy.”