A day after the Ghazipur Aadhti Association president lodged a complaint against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, 52 MlAs of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday created high drama in the national Capital as they marched towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence to “surrender” before him.
However, the MlAs, including six Ministers, were detained for violating prohibitory orders around 7 Race Course Road residence of the PM. They were then taken to the Parliament Street police station and were subsequently released after being detained for over four hours.
Soon after the MlAs were detained, a large number of AAP supporters and leaders — including, AAP Delhi convenor Dilip Pandey, Ashutosh, Ashish Khaitan — congregated outside the Parliament Street police station. They shouted “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and huddled at the main gate of the station every time a police car came out, expecting the release of their detained leaders. After the MlAs were released, they went to the Deputy CM’s House for another meeting on future course of action.
The decision to march towards the PM’s residence was taken in a meeting of legislators called by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday morning. The meeting was attended by Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla as well.
Delhi Police sources said, “After getting the information about the AAP MlAs’ decision, we had requested Sisodia not to take such an action as they would violate Section 144 of the CrPC, which is in force around the lutyen’s Zone all over the year. We had even told them that if they wanted to protest, they can go to Jantar Mantar.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) Jatin Narwal said that since the 52 MlAs, including the Deputy Chief Minister, violated Section 144 of CrPC, that was enforced around Race course road, they were detained under Section 65 of the Delhi Police act.
After his release, Sisodia said, “We (AAP MlAs) all went together. If you (PM) want to do politics of sending us to jail then we will all come to you. Send us to jail together. At least the Delhi Police can nab the rapists. Which is why we went, but they detained us.”
He also tweeted, “We have been kept in the custody for four hours. Remember Modi ji. If you stop work in Delhi then policemen will also speak. You have arrested and kept us in Parliament Street Police Station, but we are ready to go to Tihar. Just don’t stop the work of people of Delhi.”
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal tweeted, “Complaint filed against Manish Sisodia yesterday. Manish will go to 7, RCR today to surrender himself before PM.”
Transport Minister Gopal Rai said the ruling Modi Government has given rise to an Emergency-like situation in Delhi and things are happening in a “planned manner to obstruct” the working of the Delhi Government.
“When a BJP MlA indulges in hooliganism, he is not arrested. There is no action against those whose name cropped up in the MM Khan murder case, but AAP is targeted,” he said.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju termed the act as “a drama”. He said the people of Delhi have given the AAP a mandate to work but Kejriwal was indulging in “theatrics”.
Rijiju said it is better not to react against Kejriwal’s charges. “We are so busy in running the country. The people have given us a chance to service the country. Arvind Kejriwal and his associates do drama all the time, the way he brings out things using theatricsIJ Does he have no workIJ
“The people of Delhi have given them a mandate to work, but he is missing out on it and indulges in drama. If we start responding to every question of Kejriwal then we will have to stop working. The PM is so busy. He is always thinking of what to do for the country. If we start acting like these dramebaaz then who will work for the country,” said Rijiju.
The latest confrontation between AAP Government and the Centre was triggered when traders of Ghazipur Mandi lodged a complaint with the police against Sisodia alleging that he had threatened them. This came close on the heels of arrest of AAP MlA Dinesh Mohaniya on charges of molestation and sexual harassment on Saturday.
On Saturday, the Deputy Chief Minister had said that he had gone for a surprise inspection at Ghazipur Mandi where some people were running “illegal business” and they registered a complaint alleging that he had threatened them.
“I am sure that Modiji will tomorrow convert this complaint into accusations like violence, eve-teasing a girl and extortion and get me arrested,” he had stated.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Sunday said that no action can be taken in connection with a complaint against Sisodia unlike in the case of AAP MlA Dinesh Mohaniya whose offences were cognizable in nature and he was arrested as he did not join the investigation.
Delhi Police Chief Spokesperson Taj Hassan said, “the Delhi police gets complaints from many people. We have got complaint from Ghazipur mandi. If the complaint involves any cognizable offence then we take action. The complaint received by us doesn’t involve any cognizable offence.
“In Dinesh Mohaniya case, the complaint was cognizable. After the statements of the women were recorded in front of the magistrate, arrest was made. Also, he was not joining the investigation, therefore, arrest was made.”
“Many public representatives give complaints against other public representatives. But the action is taken only after legal scrutiny. Delhi police clarifies that no legal action will be taken in the complaint. The MlAs have reached there despite Section 144 CrPC being imposed,” the official added.
Elaborating on the case in which Mohaniya was arrested, DCP (South) Ishwar Singh said, “On the basis of the statements given by victims under 164 CrPC (judicial confession), further sections were imposed. Dinesh Mohaniya was sent notice twice. He was asked to join the investigation. He kept evading.
“It seemed that he was not cooperating and, therefore, the arrest was made. (Press) Conference was going on since a long time. His conduct was non-cooperative and evading. He had also slapped a resident of Govindpuri.”