Warns Chief Secys, DGPs against AAP-style riot rerun
Annoyed with the Aam Aadmi Party’s violent protest outside the BJP headquarters at Ashoka Road, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed Chief Secretaries and Director General of Police of all States and Union Territories that such untoward incidents should not get repeated during the election period.
Taking a serious view towards such unwarranted events at this juncture, the ECI has expressed its deep concerns and anguish. “Keeping these developments in mind, the ECI desires that law and order measures should be strictly enforced to ensure that such untoward incidents should not be get repeated during the election period,” the ECI said in a letter to State Government’s Chief Secretaries and Union Territories.
“The Commission desires that all major events, including situation analysis of the area concerned, be closely monitored on a day-to-day basis and a report to this extent should be sent to the Commission regularly without fail to enable the ECI to take stock of the situation. Besides, the Commission directs that the Chief Electoral Officers concerned should be kept in the loop and be well informed in time to ensure sanctity of entire election proceedings,” the letter said.
It would be pertinent to mention that hours after AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was detained by Gujarat Police while on his way to Bhuj district on March 5, AAP supporters went on a rampage outside BJP headquarters at Ashoka Road in Delhi, where they pelted stones and tore off the party’s flag. AAP and BJP supporters also clashed in lucknow, while a group of people protesting Kejriwal’s foray into Gujarat broke the windshield of his car. Condemning the attack on its office, the BJP had accused the AAP of attempting to vitiate the environment ahead of lok Sabha polls and urged the Election Commission (EC) to take note of it.
Delhi Police had in its report accused AAP protesters of indulging in “riotous acts and using criminal force” to prevent it from discharging their duty with regard to Wednesday’s protest that had turned violent.
The District Electoral Officer of New Delhi in his report has prime facie found the AAP guilty of violating various sections of the MCC for the unlawful protest at BJP Headquarters. “The AAP not only organised an illegal protest in blatant violation of the MCC but also jeopardised the rights of other individuals living nearby 11 Ashoka Road,” it said.