High drama prevailed on Sunday during the inauguration of the much-awaited ‘Signature Bridge’ with Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari and scores of his supporters staging a protest for allegedly not being invited to the inaugural event of the newly-built city landmark.
Tiwari and his supporters allegedly entered into a scuffle with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members and police at the inaugural event of theSignature Bridge, which Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed as “unprecedented”.
Tiwari along with his supporters reached up to the venue of the inaugural function. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy were not present when the protest took place.
Tiwari had expressed displeasure over not being invited to the inaugural function and took a dig at Kejriwal government saying he will be present at the bridge to welcome the chief minister, who is scheduled to inaugurate the bridge on Sunday.
“I will be present at Signature bridge to welcome the Chief Minister. After all I am MP of the area. It took 15 years and Rs 1500 crore to build the bridge, its shameful,” Tiwari had tweeted. Tiwari is MP from North East Delhi and the bridge comes in his constituency.
Following the clash between BJP and AAP workers, Delhi Police officials escorted Tiwari away from the venue. The state BJP chief accused AAP and police of misbehaving with him and wondered why he was surrounded with cops. “I am MP from here. So what’s the problem? Am I a criminal? Why has the police surrounded me? I’m here to welcome him (Arvind Kejriwal). AAP and police have misbehaved with me,” Tiwari further said.
“Unprecedented. Chaos by BJP at Signature Bridge inauguration site. Its a Del govt prog. Police mute spectator. Can LG, being head of Del police, ensure peace and order at Signature bridge inauguration site?” tweeted Arvind kejriwal.
Replying to Tiwari’s tweet, Sisodia had said that entire Delhi including he (Tiwari) were invited to the inauguration function and expected him to maintain dignity of the event.
Meanwhile, Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police, eastern range, said the main function was held smoothly without any disturbance.
“Our staff on duty at the place of function performed their task with utmost restraint and diligence.
“Though there was slogan shouting but police segregated the groups and did not allow any clash or violence to take place,” he said.
“The situation was handled very professionally by Delhi Police and not allowed to take an ugly turn,” Yadav added.