No change in government stand: Sushil Kumar Shinde on Kejriwal's demand

New Delhi: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today said there is no change in the government's stand on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's demand for suspension of policemen for alleged dereliction of duty, saying action will be taken only after receiving the inquiry report.

"My stand remains the same. No change in the stand. Action will be taken only after receiving the report," he told reporters here. He was replying to a question whether the Home Ministry is contemplating suspension of those policemen against whom Kejriwal and his ministerial colleagues are demanding action for alleged dereliction of duty relating to three incidents.

Asked whether the Home Ministry was planning to forcibly evict the protesters from near Rail Bhavan, which is adjacent to the Republic Day celebrations area, Shinde indicated that there was no such plan. "Let them do whatever they want to do," he said.

On whether the protests would give a bad name to the country as the national capital is preparing for Republic Day, he said, "The Chief Minister should think over it".

Kejriwal, whose dharna entered second day today, has ruled out negotiations to end the stand off with the Centre and threatened to flood Rajpath with lakhs of supporters that can disrupt Republic Day celebrations.

The Delhi CM is accompanied by his six cabinet colleagues and supporters at the protest site.

Next: AAP is trying to divert the attention of people: Venkaiah Naidu

AAP is trying to divert the attention of people: Venkaiah Naidu

Hyderabad: BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said, "It (AAP) has proved that it is an Anarchist Aadmi Party and not an Aam Aadmi Party. The day AAP agreed to take support of corrupt and communal Congress and formed the government, it lost its credibility."

The action of Kejriwal in supporting his colleague, who was "involved in an ugly spat with police and became responsible for denigration of India's image internationally," has further eroded AAP's credibility, Naidu alleged.

"Having failed to fulfil the promises it made and having realised that it cannot continue in power for long, AAP is trying to divert the attention of people and is trying to portray themselves as martyrs to be in limelight," he told reporters.

He claimed that Congress is also in a catch-22 situation, which rushed to extend support to form the government, as "it has now realised that it is also being condemned for the support extended to anarchist AAP."

"The anarchist is not my word, but the word used by Congressmen," Naidu said. Asked about the demand of AAP to bring Delhi Police under control of Delhi government, he said the matter needs to be debated and that it cannot be decided on the streets.

He said security should be provided to common people in Delhi and also VIPs, central government offices, visiting dignitaries and foreign embassies in the national capital.

The BJP leader recalled that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home, headed by him, had suggested raising a special force for protection of VIPs in the national capital and letting the Delhi Police concentrate on providing security to people there.

Naidu said there should be a constructive national debate on the 'idea of India' and 'vision of India' articulated by BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi recently.

Asked about the criticism of Bollywood actor Salman Khan for participating in festival celebrations with Modi, he maintained that some people are suffering from "Modi phobia."

Observing that there are many people from minority communities who have reached great heights of excellence in various fields, Naidu said a person should be assessed on the basis of his ability and not religion.

He also criticised Congress for not distancing itself from the comments made by its leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Modi. Last week, Aiyar had mocked Modi's prime ministerial ambitions and said a place would be identified for him to sell tea at AICC meeting.

Modi has often referred to his humble background as a tea vendor at railway station at many rallies. "It is really surprising to note that Congress has not distanced itself from the statement made by Mani Shankar Aiyar.

But people say that tea sellers are better than the people who sell the country's interests," he said.