AAP Dharna live: Kejriwal leaves car, will address supporters

12.00 pm: Kejriwal to hold dharna near rail bhavan

The Delhi Chief Minster has been escorted out of his vehicle, and has moved into a nearby park where he is expected to hold his dharna, says Firstpost reporter Soumik Mukherjee.

Despite AAP directives, hundreds of AAP supporters are present at the venue.

Kejriwal is expected to address them shortly.

11.52 am: Will Kejriwal be moved along with his car?

With the standoff near rail bhavan showing no signs of an early resolution, the latest piece of information coming in is that the Delhi police has a traffic crane on standby to forcibly remove Kejriwal along with his car. This is likely to be difficult to pull off, given the huge crowds massed around the vehicle, but what it does show is that the Delhi police are willing to play hard ball.

The only option right now for Kejriwal according to CNN-IBN, is for him to leave his car and proceed alone towards North block where he can meet Shinde face to face and attempt to talk the situation out. Shinde is currently at a function, but has said that action against any police officer will only be taken once the probe is complete.

11.30 am: BJP crash Kejriwal party, protest his protest

Ah drama from an unexpected quarter. A bunch of protestors have just turned up wearing saffron Gandhi caps, shouting anti-Kejriwal slogans.

Calling themselves BAAP (Bhartiya Aam Aadmi Party) the protestors have said that they support the BJP and are opposed to Kejriwal's dharna and the actions of his government.

Protesting a protest. Very meta. But this is clearly a security nightmare.

The BAAP supporters have been rounded up and driven off in a bus.

Meanwhile one of the Delhi police officers has told media that not only would Kejriwal be able to proceed further, he would also not be allowed to leave.

"Come what may we will maintain law and order, and this is a law and order situation. We are prepared for the worst", one of the officers said.

A bunch of water cannons have also been placed near North block with which to control crowds. Getting hit with jets of freezing water in the Delhi winter is definitely an unappealing prospect. And with Kejriwal's persistent cough, he may want to avoid that situation completely!

11.15 am: Kejriwal stopped at barricade near central Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been stopped at a police barricade outside rail bhavan. The police are expected to try and reason with Kejriwal and ask him to turn back.

The police have surrounded the car. One of the police officers told assembled media that the Chief Minister still did not have permission to proceed further.

On a lighter note, according to Firstpost Delhi reporter Soumik Mukherjee, the Delhi Police don't have to do anything to stop Kejriwal. The photographers and cameramen who have swarmed around the car, have made sure that Kejriwal does not come out. Manish Sisodia is accompanying the Chief Minister.

Somnath Bharti meanwhile continues to play the innocently outraged do gooder vigilante. "What have I done wrong? We did not do anything and neither did our supporters", he told television reporters.

"People from Africa and Uganda are welcome to the country. They are like members of my family."

10.50 am: Kejriwal, Bharti leave for North block dharna

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and controversial state law minister Somnath Bharti are leaving the Delhi secretariat to the Home Ministry in the North block.

It is unlikely that they will be able to go all the way to the North block due to extremely tight security, and are likely to be stopped near rail bhavan.

The traffic condition in New Delhi has taken a serious hit. All the roads surrounding and connected to India gate are choked with traffic. This move of kejriwal, it seems, is not going down well with the people in Delhi. Specially his support to Bharti, when Bharti was clearly on slippery ground.

Meanwhile an unrepentant Somnath Bharti said that it was not his actions that were the problem.

"The question is not my action. Question is Delhi police barbarism and inaction on various concerns, People need to be told it is the Chief Minister who runs the city", he told media people gathered outside the secretariat. He also said he was prepared for 'anything' including getting arrested.

On Twitter, people are not amused.

Ends do not justify the means in a republic. They do so only in a banana.

— Nitin Pai (@acorn) January 20, 2014

 

Kejriwal and company are looking for an excuse to leave government, claim moral superiority and go back to their core competency: agitprop

— Ashok Malik (@MalikAshok) January 20, 2014

 

10.12 am: North block is a war zone ahead of dharna

North block has been turned into a virtual battle zone ahead of the planned dharna. Columns of heavily armed riot police were seen at the site. A little extreme perhaps for a demonstration by just seven MLA's, but the Delhi police say that they need to be prepared on two counts.

First because of the alleged Indian Mujahideen threat against Kejriwal, and second because they cannot rule out the possibility of other AAP supporters trying to join the dharna and creating a ruckus.

According to this report in the Times of India, Police seem in no mood to allow AAP leaders and activists anywhere near North Block, the proposed venue of the dharna. The department has imposed section 144 in and around Parliament House, North and South Block, central vista lawns and Vijay Chowk, outlawing assembly of more than five people from Sunday to Wednesday. DCP (New Delhi district) S B S Tyagi said the CM was free to protest at Jantar Mantar

Well folks, it looks like this is shaping up to be a unique stand off between the CM and the state police force. Will it all end in violence, or can something be sorted out to avoid this admittedly ungainly situation?

At this point it's hard to say, so lets turn to Twitter. As can be expected the jokes are flowing thick and fast, with #YoKejriwalSoBrave the top trend on the social networking site.

Here are a few tweets:

#YoKejriwalSoBrave he once sent a minister to make women urinate in public

— oracle1313 (@oracle1313) January 20, 2014

 

Lord Krishna said that one must do one's dharma Lord Kejriwal says that one must do one's dharna

— The Bad Doctor (@doctoratlarge) January 20, 2014

 

Thank you #YoKejriwalSoBrave, you took only a month to convert Delhi into Kolkata...bas ab 20-25 addey khol do

— Alok Bhatt (@alok_bhatt) January 20, 2014

 

10.00 am: Kejriwal, Somnath Bharti reach secretariat for dharna

After Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Law Minister Somnath Bharti who has squarely been in the eye of the storm, has also reached the secretariat in preparation to sit on the dharna.

Apart from Kejriwal and Bharti, five other AAP MLA's including Manish Sisodia and Rakhi Birla will sit on the dharna.

Kejriwal will now be waiting to hear from the Delhi Lt governor Najeeb Jung on whether or not action will be taken against four police officers, as demanded by Kejriwal.

If Jung refuses, Kejriwal and the other MLAs will leave for North block to hold the dharna outside the Home Minister's office at around 10.30 am.

It is unlikely however that they will be allowed to proceed all the way to North block. The Times Now channel reported that the protestors were likely to be stopped near Rail bhavan.

9.24 am: Kejriwal could be detained?

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal could well be detained under the Delhi police act if he goes ahead with his dharna, reports CNN-IBN quoting sources.

Kejriwal has definitely made up his mind to attend and has left his residence to do so. He is reportedly prepared to be detained by the police if it comes to that.

If he is indeed detained, this would be an unprecedented situation, not to mention unseemly, in which the Delhi government would be pitted against the police force of the state.

He has however made a climb down of sorts since then. From earlier saying that 27 MLAs would participate in the dharna, AAP has now said that only 7 MLAs will participate. And Kejriwal has also reversed an earlier press statement in which he asked the people of Delhi to participate. He has now told people not to come for the dharna, in view of republic day celebrations. He has also revised his demand for the suspension of police officials to instead ask for their transfer at the very least.

9.00 am: Don't come for dharna, AAP tells people

Following AAP leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's tweet, asking people not to attend the dharna, party spokesperson Ashutosh has also tweeted, asking people to stay away. "AAP leadership request its volunteers and supporters to maintain peace and don't come to streets during CM's dharna !!!"

Only seven MLAs are expected to sit on the dharna.

Ashutosh also defended AAP's dharna and minister Somnath Bharti, both of whom have come under severe criticism.

"Elitist establishment feels threatened with minor effort to change things. They are part of the system and benefit to run corrupt system", he tweeted.

AAP has been insisting that they are going on the dharna to ensure the safety of women in Delhi. "The safety of women and people is our primary concern. We are doing this to ensure that it is achieved", AAP member Sanjay Singh told media. This was echoed by both Ashutosh and Kejriwal.

"Today the big question is are women safe in delhi ?? Are citizens safe in delhi ?? Can they trust delhi police ?? Answer is no !!!", tweeted Ashutosh.

Earlier, Kejriwal tweeted, "I alongwid all ministers and MLAs, will sit on dharna outside home min office for the sake of women security."

Meanwhile Law Minister Somnath Bharti, who is clearly unfazed by an FIR that was filed against him on the orders of a Saket magistrate court, returned to Khirki extension and held a mini janta darbar, where he warned foreigners of dire consequences if they did not respect the law of the land.

"If there are good people, irrespective of their nationality, who are here to study or work, they will be welcomed. However, if they dance naked, sell drugs and run sex rackets, then there won't be anyone worse than us. These people will have to leave," Bharti said, according to this report in the Hindustan Times.

His words had reportedly found a lot of favour with the assembled crowds. One resident had told the newspaper that they had themselves initiated a 'sting' called 'Black Beauty' to catch the foreigners sex and drugs racket. Oh no, not racist at all.

8.33 am: Kejriwal leaves residence, sets out for Delhi secretariat

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has left his residence for the Delhi secretariat where he is expected to clear some files before heading for his dharna outside the home ministry.

It is unclear at present on whether he will be allowed to enter North block.

The Delhi police have issued prohibitory orders ahead of the dharna which is scheduled to take place at 10 am.

PTI

"Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in New Delhi district. If anyone has any grievance of any sort, then they may contact the local SHO or the local Deputy Commissioner of Police instead of gathering anywhere or staging a protest in New Delhi district area," Delhi Police PRO Rajan Bhagat told media.

Police maintained that the precautionary step has been taken in view of the Republic Day, though it is six days away.

The only concession that Kejriwal gave to the police in this regard, was that he asked people not to come for the dharna, insisting that only MLA's would sit on protest.

"I along wid all ministers and MLAs, will sit on dharna outside home min office for the sake of women security. In view of republic day preps, i urge supporters and public not to come for dharna. Only MLAs will sit. No one else shud come pl", he tweeted.

He once again reiterated that AAP was right to insist on the suspension of policemen, not only in the case of them refusing to arrest African nationals without a warrant, but also in the case of their 'laxity' in the gangrape of a Danish woman, and their refusal to arrest those responsible for the murder of a woman - again without a warrant.

The Delhi police commissioner for his part has made it clear that he will stand by his men, as the raid on a residence in Khirki extension was made by AAP Law Minister Somnath Bharti without any policemen present.

The Lt governor Najeeb Jung is also expected to issue a statement on the incident, pertaining to whether or not action should be taken against the police officers concerned.

8.15 am: Delhi police order shut down of metro stations near North block

Given that the Delhi police have issued prohibitory orders preventing the assembly of more than five people, the Delhi police have ordered the shut down of four stations near North block from 9am to 1pm.

The affected metro stations will be Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhavan and Racecourse.

There will be controlled exit of government employees in the area.

7.45 am: Kejriwal to go ahead with Dharna

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced that he would go ahead and hold the dharna outside the Home Ministry, despite the police imposing prohibitory orders in the city, preventing the assembly of five or more people. Police maintained that the precautionary step has been taken in view of the Republic Day, though it is six days away.

The only concession that Kejriwal gave to the police in this regard, was that he asked people not to come for the dharna, insisting that only MLA's would sit on protest.