NEW DELHI, Mar 22: Delhi Cabinet ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj were detained here on Friday as AAP leaders staged a protest against the BJP over the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case.
The two ministers and others were taken away in police buses after they refused to disperse from Central Delhi’s ITO intersection, which is near the headquarters of the AAP and the BJP and where prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure were in force.
“I have been detained by the Delhi Police while peacefully protesting at ITO. First, these people arrest the chief minister of Delhi in false cases, and now those participating in peaceful protests, are also being arrested. If this isn’t the murder of democracy, then what is?” Atishi posted on X.
At ITO, AAP supporters raised slogans against the BJP-led central government and demanded the release of their detained leaders.
Bharadwaj posted a video on X from the Alipur police station of him and several other AAP workers singing “mera rang de basanti chola”.
He had earlier told reporters that Kejriwal’s family was placed under house arrest.
“We were going towards ITO for peaceful protest when all the workers and leaders of AAP were detained by police,” Bharadwaj said.
Police set up barricades on the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg — where the headquarters of both the parties are located — and blocked it for traffic. They were also checking the ID cards of those entering the area.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Harsha Vardhan said that ITO is a busy junction and is not a designated site for protest.
“ITO or DDU Marg is not a designated site for protest. Massive traffic issues can arise due to such kind of situations. There are several vital installations and important offices are located here. Protesters were removed from the site to maintain law and order situation and proper traffic flow,” said the DCP.
Police have also detained Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. The AAP is also in power in Punjab.
Police said they have removed and detained more than 150 protesters who were demonstrating near ITO.
AAP leaders and workers were protesting outside the party’s headquarters but Bharadwaj and Atishi, along with others, were not allowed to enter the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg.
They protested at the ITO signal and were later joined by those who were outside the AAP headquarters.
Laddi Sarna, one of the protesters outside the AAP office, was seen wearing a white kurta splashed with red colour to depict blood and a plastic knife stuck close to his chest. “I have come here wearing this white kurta having stains and a dummy knife stab to show that democracy is being murdered,” he said.
Sarna said the development work done by Kejriwal is being appreciated all over the world, and the BJP is afraid of this. “Our people are not being able to come here to present their views because of the arrangements made by the police,” he said.
The AAP’s protest and the police response to it led to a massive traffic jam near the ITO intersection, Rajghat and Vikas Marg during the morning rush hours. The roads leading to the ED office in Central Delhi was also shut.
The Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory on X, “In view of the proposed protest by political party at DDU Marg Delhi, traffic will remain heavy at IP Marg, Vikas Marg, Minto Road and Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. DDU marg will remain closed for traffic movement. Kindly avoid these roads and plan your journey accordingly.”
Following Kejriwal’s arrest on Thursday evening, the AAP had given a nationwide call for protest against the BJP.
“We demand the immediate release of Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and other leaders of the party. They (probe agencies) have not given any proof in court against Sisodia. Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest just before the Lok Sabha polls shows that the government is scared of the CM,” said Shakuntala Pandey, a protestor. (PTI)
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