AAP face-off with Centre: 'Anarchist' Kejriwal holds dharna; party workers clash with police

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday mounted an unprecedented confrontation with the Centre demanding action against some police officials while asking the honest among them to take leave and join the dharna near the seat of power in the heart of the capital.

Unfazed by criticism that he was unleashing anarchy on the streets of the capital, Kejriwal said 'I am an anarchist' and 'have come prepared for a 10-day protest' which could prolong further.

The Centre also toughened its stand rejecting the demand for immediate action saying anything can be done only after a proper inquiry which was on. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde also ruled out Delhi Police coming under the purview of the Delhi government.

This is probably the first time a chief minister and his cabinet is holding a dharna on the streets that looks like it may be a prolonged affair.

"We will not move out," Kejriwal said after a senior police official asked them to move to nearby Jantar Mantar, the place from where Kejriwal and Anna Hazare had launched an anti-corruption campaign two years ago.

Latest reports said AAP is ready to stay in dharna through out the night too and party workers are getting blankets and food for the protesters.

Kejriwal's dharna 'anarchic, drama': Congress and BJP

The trigger for the agitation that has disrupted life close to the vicinity of central government's seat of power, the Raisina Hill, is Delhi Police's refusal to raid an alleged drug and prostitution ring in an area under Law Minister Somnath Bharti's constituency of Malviya Nagar.

Bharti had himself led a team of AAP supporters past midnight on Wednesday last week and demanded a raid but police on the spot refused to do his bidding.

Accusing police of taking bribes and making money while compromising the safety of women, Kejriwal demanded that central government suspend four officials who refused to act on the minister's orders.

AAP government's countdown has begun: Congress

Sensing an opportunity ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal, who is also convener of AAP, decided to escalate the confrontation by brining all his ministers to sit on dharna in defiance of the prohibitory orders in force in the area.

Delhi Police rushed around 4,000 of its men and women but scuffles broke out between them and AAP volunteers in which the party claimed a local MLA was severely beaten up and a number of others injured.

Clashes broke out when police disconnected Kejriwal's audio system prompting angry response from the AAP supporters. The police pushed some of the supporters when they tried to break barricades.

In the evening, a number of AAP leaders including Sanjay Singh and former journalist Ashutosh were seen having heated arguments with police for allegedly beating a number of their supporters including Model Town MLA Akhilesh Tripathi. They also claimed that Transport Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj had been detained by police, which denied it.

In a tweet, Kejriwal said Tripathi was beaten up by the police 'brutally'. An AAP leader said Tripathi had to be admitted to a hospital.

AAP workers also claimed that protesters, including minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, were being 'detained' by the police.

Speaking to reporters, Bharadwaj said, "The constables misbehaved with us, arrested us, then drove us around and then let us go." However, Delhi Police sources denied detaining anybody and said that minister was only stopped at the barricade.

"We have not detained or arrested anyone. We did not hit anyone. The claims by AAP are false," Mukesh Meena, Joint CP told media. He added that AAP has violated Section 144 in Delhi's high security zone.

Hitting out at the Centre, Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is leading the dharna said, "The whole country is watching this and we will give a fitting reply to Congress in Lok Sabha elections."

"On what basis was MLA Akhilesh Tripathi beaten up? Why was minister Saurabh Bhardawaj detained?," he asked.

The cops disconnected the loud speakers at the protest site in a bid to disperse the crowd.

The leave of all Delhi Police personnel has been cancelled to deal with the situation. While attacking the police, Kejriwal appealed to the honest among them to take leave and join his protest.

"Some people are saying that I am an anarchist. I am spreading disorder. I agree I am an anarchist. Today, I will create anarchy for Shinde," he said in an impromptu address to his party MLAs and supporters.

Earlier in the morning, Kejriwal along with his supporters attempted to go to North Block housing the Home Ministry to lodge their protest.

However, they were stopped near the Rail Bhavan as the nearby Vijay Chowk and the entire Rajpath were sealed for the Republic Day rehearsal that was going on.

In his address to his MLAs and supporters, Kejriwal put the blame squarely on the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Centre for the situation that has led to his dharna and appealed to people to join him. He said any crisis arising out of the situation including disturbance in holding Republic Day celebrations will be the responsibility of the Centre.

Read here: Four Metro stations closed ahead of protest by AAP

Kejriwal claimed that a woman official of the Ugandan High Commission met Law Minister Bharti and gave him a letter written by an official of the Mission to the government in Uganda on a woman from his country brought to Delhi and allegedly forced into prostitution racket.

He claimed the Ugandan official welcomed their campaign on the issue.

However, Ministry of External Affairs rejected Kejriwal's claim and said Aam Aadmi Party was playing with the 'reputation' of India. 

Read on: MEA rebuts Kejriwal's claim on Ugandan official meeting Bharti

The Chief Minister attacked functioning of police saying the streets of Delhi are not safe for women. Asked about the law and order situation, a senior police official said, "We will do everything possible to maintain law and order." On whether Kejriwal and his supporters will be evicted forcibly in the night, the official refused to reveal the 'strategy' in public. 

Kejriwal said his protest will not affect governance as he will clear files from the protest site.

Defending his action to hold dharna, Kejriwal asked those gathered whether it was wrong to demand suspension of policemen in connection with the rape of Danish woman and those who failed to act on his cabinet colleagues' letter demanding protection for a woman who was later allegedly burnt alive by her parents-in-law.

Kejriwal said he was demanding action against policemen who failed to check drug and sex racket being run from south Delhi. He said under such circumstances, ministers should be seen among people instead of sitting in the cosy comforts of their big bungalows.

Kejriwal also criticised a section of the media, Congress and BJP for describing actions of AAP leaders as 'vigilantism'. He also referred to the allegation made by former Union Home Secretary R K Singh against Shinde that he was involved in the transfer of SHOs in Delhi Police.

"It creates doubt that money has changed hands (for the purpose)," said Kejriwal.

Shinde dares RK Singh, AAP to give proof of corruption

He said most policemen are not corrupt and asked the honest ones to join AAP's movement against corruption. He recalled that the Delhi Government has given Rs 1 crore compensation to the next of the kin of the policeman who was killed by liquor mafia recently. 

Next: AAP stir sets off massive traffic snarls in Central Delhi

AAP stir sets off massive traffic snarls in Central Delhi

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal dharna's near the Rail Bhavan triggered massive traffic snarls in Central Delhi today as police barricaded the roads leading to the protest site.

Closure of four metro stations further escalated the situation as bumper-to-bumper traffic was seen on almost all major arterial roads in New Delhi district.

Traffic Police used their Facebook page to warn people about the clogged roads "Ashoka road & Baba Kharak Singh Marg will remain heavy, Parliament Street is closed for both carriage way due to AAP workers (members) marching to Jantar Mantar from R/A Krishi Bhavan. Traffic is heavy on Akbar Road and Mansingh Road."

As traffic policemen grappled with the task to normalize traffic, around 3000 policemen were also deployed in and around the protest site. As the protest was at a place which houses a number of sensitive government offices, those returning home during the evening rush hour had to face a lot of problems.