New Delhi: There seems to be no end to the confrontation between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Centre with the agitation by AAP members gathering steam despite rains and biting cold.
Kejriwal on Tuesday reiterated his two demands - full control over the Delhi Police and the suspension of policemen who refused to bow down to Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti's diktats during the midnight raid in Khirki village. He also threatened to continue his protest indefinitely until the demands are met and even threatened to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations.
Kejriwal even declined requests from the Delhi Police and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to shift his protest venue from Raisena Hill to Jantar Mantar keeping the Republic Day preparations in mind. He said that he is the Chief Minister of Delhi and he can sit on dharna wherever he wants to. Instead he said that it is his right to tell Shinde where he should sit. "Shinde should not shut the metros. The whole area has been cordoned off, toilets in the buildings are closed. Who is Shinde to decide where we will protest? I am the CM of Delhi," he said.
The Delhi Police has submitted its report on the current security situation to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Sources say that the Delhi Police believes that AAP supporters are provoking them. However, the police have been asked to maintain restraint in acting against the protesters.
Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari lambasted Kejriwal for his comments on disrupting the Republic Day celebrations. "If they disrupt the Republic Day celebrations, they will have to answer the people. By violating the Republic Day, they are violating the Constitution on which they took oath of office," he said. He also added that it will be seen if there was a need to move Kejriwal forcibly from the protest venue.
Kejriwal is facing criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party, too, which is holding protest against AAP's agitation at the same venue. The BJP called the agitation a gameplan between the Congress and Kejriwal. "It is a game plan by Congress and Kejriwal. They keep changing their statements. Earlier they said no one should come to the protest venue, now they are demanding people to come in huge numbers," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
The BJP also accused AAP of insulting army jawans by creating disturbance in Republic Day preparations.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) against the agitation stating that the protest is in violation of the established law. The SC will hear the PIL on January 24.
The PIL filed by advocate ML Sharma said that as Kejriwal holds a constitutional position, it is mandatory for him to inform the governor or lieutenant governor before organising such a protest.
Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti has also been made a respondent in the PIL. It is stated that Bharti, who triggered the controversy, took law in his own hands and thus action must be taken against him.
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