9.00 pm: Shinde briefs PM on Kejriwal sit-in
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde tonight met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the government grappled with the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's sit-in in the national capital. Shinde's meeting with the prime minister came sometime after a meeting of the Union cabinet.
There has been talk that the home minister was consulting legal experts on the issue of proceeding against Kejriwal who has made serious charges against him on money exchanging hands for transfer and posting of SHOs of Delhi Police.
He was with the Prime Minister for nearly 20 minutes. There was no official word on what transpired at the meeting which came as Delhi witnessed an unprecedented face-off between the Centre and Kejriwal who today began a dharna in front of Rail Bhavan calling himself an "anarchist" and asking "honest" police officials to take leave and join his protest demanding action against some of their colleagues.
Defying prohibitory orders in force in the high-security area near the seat of power, Kejriwal accompanied by six of his ministers, came down hard on the Centre for the current situation arising from their demand for action against officials who refused to raid an alleged drug and prostitution racket in an area in South Delhi.
"Some people are saying that I am an anarchist. I am spreading disorder. I agree I am an anarchist. Today, I will create anarchy for Shinde," he told his party MLAs and supporters at the dharna site.
PTI
7.55 pm: CRPF, ITBP moves in at Delhi protest venue
The security force at the protest venue has increased with three more battalion of the ITBP now moving in, our correspondent Soumik Mukherjee reports. More CRPF personnel are also reaching the protest in buses.
The Delhi Police, however, have said that they are not going to use force.
7. 02 pm: SSB personnel brought in at dharna venue
Around 100 SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) personnel have been brought in at the dharna venue at Rail Bhawan, says Firstpost reporter Soumik Mukherjee who is at the venue.
He says that the dharna may be wrapped up soon.
6.55 pm: Kejriwal to stay at protest venue overnight
CNN-IBN reports that Arvind Kejriwal will be staying at the protest venue at Rail Bhawan overnight.
6.15 pm: People who control Delhi cops are anarchist, says Bharti
Somnath Bharti today defended their dharna and said that, "We are not anarchist. Those who are controlling Delhi police are anarchist."
5.45 pm: Injured AAP MLA taken to hospital
The injured AAP MLA has been taken to Delhi's RML hospital.
CNN-IBN reports that there are hardly any measures in place given the sudden nature of the protest.
5.42 pm: No plan yet of removing Kejriwal from dharna, says MHA
Meanwhile MHA sources were reported by CNN-IBN as saying that they have immediate plans of removing Arvind Kejriwal from the dharna venue.
5.33 pm: Delhi Police detains AAP protesters
The Delhi police has now started detaining AAP protesters who were sitting in a dharna at the Rail Bhawan area.
CNN-IBN reports that DTC buses were brought in to ferry out supporters from the area.
An MLA, according, AAP members have been injured because of police lathi charge.
Television visuals show AAP members crowding around said MLA and fanning him and giving him water.
5.19 pm: Yogendra Yadav, Sanjay Singh join dharna
After Manish Sisodia, AAP leaders Yogendra Yadav, Sanjay Singh and Ashutosh have joined the dharna against the Delhi police.
5.03 pm: Why celebrate Republic Day? asks AAP
AAP ministers have made it clear that they won't move their protest to Jantar Mantar.
Arvind Kejriwal said, "What is the point of celebrating Republic Day when women are getting raped in Delhi. If our dharna is hampering preparations, Centre is responsible."
Somnath Bharti, toeing party line said there is no need to celebrate republic day.
4.13 pm: Congress slams Arvind Kejriwal, says AAP on dharna to protect their own ministers
Delhi Congress Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely has slammed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying there was a limit to lies and the government cannot get away by holding dharnas.
Speaking at a press conference, Lovely said Kejriwal was on a protest only to protect his ministers and not for any other reason.
"If he was interested in solving the Delhi gangrape case he would have acted faster and not said 'I'll meet the Delhi Police Commissioner only after one week'."
The Congress further attacked the AAP government saying those in executive positions cannot take law into their own hands.
4.05 pm: AAP workers, Delhi Police clash outside Rail Bhavan
Aam Aadmi Party workers clashed with police personnel outside Rail Bhavan in New Delhi where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is holding a protest against the Delhi Police.
According to NDTV, Rapid Action Force have been brought to the site in case the situation worsens. The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed Arvind Kejriwal to take his protest to Jantar Mantar as the current area is under section 144 of IPC.
Meanwhile, CM Arvind Kejriwal has started working from the dharna site with files already piling up at the venue.
3.57 pm: AAP does it again, issues press release with sexual assault victims name
After Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti issued a press release last week (that was soon withdrawn) naming the Danish gangrape victim, his party today released a Uganda High Commission letter to the party which had the name of a woman who allegedly faced assault by AAP workers.
The party, though, soon sent another email withdrawing its release saying it had named the victim.
3.45 pm: AAP workers gherao Union Minister Manish Tewari
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari was forced to abandon his car and walk to office after Aam Aadmi Pary workers gheraoed his car and shouted slogans against him.
The minister, though, was unfazed and walked to office with a smile, saying he is a grass root political worker as well.
3.29 pm: Won't pull plug on Delhi govt as yet, says Congress
While the AAP government in New Delhi is now protesting against the UPA government outside Rail Bhavan in New Delhi, the Congress party has decided not to withdraw support to the minority government, but to adopt a wait-and-watch approach.
Senior Congress MLA and former Delhi minister Haroon Yusuf, reacting to Kejriwal's sit-in protest against the Home Minister said,"This is usual practice of the Aam Admi Party. They are used to holding dharnas and they are continuing with it even after forming the government. They could have talked to higher authorities and the Home Minister instead of dealing with it with his kind of tamashe baazi. This is the first time in the history of democracy that a CM and ministers is holding a dharna. Let us see what he does."
2.48 pm: Kejriwal urges women to join protest
In a sign that he has well and truly dug his heels in, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged women in Delhi to come and join their protest against the police. Insisting that the agitation would be held for ten days, Kejriwal added that maintaining law and order would be the responsibility of the Delhi police.
This view was echoed by senior leader Yogendra Yadav, who said that although it was unusual for a CM to sit on dharna on such a small demand, it was necessary because of the troubles faced by the people of Delhi.
"We are doing the politics of listening to people's voices. People of Delhi don't know who to approach with problems. We are taking up their problems", he said.
2.20 pm: Anyone who has faced injustice by Delhi police, should come protest, says Yadav
After justifying AAP's dharna against the police as the fulfillment of the party election manifesto, Yadav went on to urge the people of Delhi to join the protest. "All those who have faced police inefficiency and corruption should come protest with us", he said.
Yadav added that the party was totally against racism. "If any of our volunteers/ministers have done any such acts we will take action", he said in relation to charges that state Law Minister Somnath Bharti had made several racist references to two Ugandan women who he had accused of being involved in a sex and drugs racket.
"The Uganda High Commission wrote to us with an instance of how women are brought to India and forced into the sex trade. They thanked us", he said.
These arguments are more or less along the same lines as what Kejriwal said earlier in the day.
2:15 pm: Protest in keeping with AAP's manifesto, says Yadav
Yadav pointed out that the AAP had promised in its manifesto that the Delhi Police would be brought under the state government and not under the central government.
He then proceed to read out from the manifesto that spoke about how they had promised to bring the Delhi Police under the government.
"The actions of the Chief Minister were merely to ensure that we keep our promise that we listed in the manifesto," Yadav said.
2:00 pm: Yadav questions accountability of the Delhi Police
AAP's Yogendra Yadav is now holding a press conference in which he's justifying the protest rally against the Delhi Police.
The lack of accountability has become very clear from the actions of the Delhi Police over the last few days," Yogendra Yadav said.
He spoke of the woman being burnt by her in-laws, the Danish gangrape case, the Khirkee village raid and said the three cases were proof of the Delhi police's inaction.
"They had met the Union Home Minister to take some action to send a message...We said that at least transfer them, but that was also refused," Yadav said.
The leader pointed out that in the event of an inquiry it was standard practice to transfer the official to prevent them from influencing the probe.
"The question is whether the Delhi police is accountable to the people of Delhi or not?" Yadav said.
1:50 pm: Digvijaya Singh says laws aren't made on streets
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has criticised Kejriwal for his protest and said that he should remember that laws aren't made in the street but in Parliament and Assemblies.
"If the Delhi Chief Minister wants to be allowed the right to protest in the streets then the Delhi Police should also be allowed to do its job," Singh said.
1:45 pm: Sisodia says that everyone in Delhi who has a problem with city police should join
Minister Manish Sisodia is now on the stage and is urging people to join the protest that he says will continue until their demands are met.
"Kejriwal's health is terrible and any other government employee would have taken four days off. But here he is protesting," Sisodia said.
If family in Delhi that believes their mothers and sisters are not safe should join the protest, he said.
The minister said that Delhi would only feel safe when they felt that police officials were there to protect them and not to serve VIPs.
"This year it won't be the Republic Day for VIPs but an independence day for the Aam Aadmi," Sisodia said.
1:20 pm: Take it to Jantar Mantar, Delhi cops tell Kejriwal
The Delhi Police has reportedly told the Chief Minister that he can continue his protest rally but has to take it to Jantar Mantar and not in the garden outside Rail Bhawan.
Whether the Chief Minister will agree remains to be seen.
12:50 pm: Congress says won't withdraw support yet, BJP slams AAP
The Congress has reportedly said that despite the Delhi Chief Minister going up against its Home Minister, it won't be withdrawing support to the AAP government for now.
However, Congress activists did protest outside the Delhi Police commissionerate's office demanding that Kejriwal be arrested.
Meanwhile the BJP has hit out at the AAP but not over Kejriwal's comments but over inconveniencing travellers.
"They indulged in politics in the name of Aam Aadmi,its Aam Aadmi who has faced trouble most today due metros shutting down," Harsh Vardhan said.
12:40 pm: Shinde says Delhi Police will remain under Ministry for Home Affairs
If you heard Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde you wouldn't know there's a dharna taking place near his office.
The minister calmly explains that the Lieutenant Governor and he have ordered an inquiry into the Delhi Police officials against whom questions have been raised.
"Action will be taken on the basis of the findings of the inquiry being conducted," Shinde said.
He also said there was no question of giving charge of the Delhi Police to the Delhi state government since the national capital was modelled on the lines of the police force in Washington DC. The Delhi Police will remain under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
12:35 pm: Will hold dharna for next ten days, says Kejriwal
The Delhi Chief Minister has said that they will continue to peacefully demonstrate against the Delhi Police for the next ten days.
"If there is any incident here, if there is a constitutional crisis the Centre is to blame. Sushilkumar Shindesaab will be responsible," Kejriwal said.
Having declared the intent to protest for the next ten days the Delhi Chief Minister has laid down the mic and is now sitting on dharna.
12.24 pm: We are holding dharna for people, not for us, says Kejriwal
Calling on the people of Delhi to join him in their protest, Kejriwal said that his answer to politicians and media people who were asking him why the Chief Minister was holding a dharna, was that he was not holding it for himself, but for the people of Delhi.
"If police don't help people what are they supposed to do? When they don't listen even to ministers. Delhi Police takes money from autorickshaw drivers. It has taken money to not take action on lawlessness. We are here for the security of women. We want all the people of Delhi to come here to protest against Delhi police", he said.
He also appealed to the 'honest' Delhi police officers to take leave and come and join the dharna.
"If the police commissioner has a problem with this, you tell me and I will do something", he said.
He also alleged that the money illegally collected by the Delhi police went to the police commissioner and even to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. He pointed out that former Home Secretary RK Singh had recently said that SHOs were bribing the minister and the lack of desire to transfer the police officials only indicated it may be true.
This speech is getting more and more inflammatory by the minute. If things go south, we could well see a clash between the AAP supporters who are cheering his every word and and the Delhi police who have a very heavy presence at the site.
12.16 pm: We have done nothing wrong, insists Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal is addressing people, standing next to Manish Sisodia atop a makeshift stage.
"There has been a rape and the police claims a probe is on. But just a probe isn't enough. Someone should take responsibility for the incident whether a constable or an official", he said. He is clearly referring to the recent gangrape and robbery of a Danish woman in the national capital.
"We wanted the suspension of the SHO where the gangrape took place. Tell me, were we wrong to do this?", he asked.
He also touched on Somnath Bharti's vigilante action, saying that any 'drug or sex racket' could not take place without those responsible for it, greasing the palms of the Delhi police. The crowds are cheering.
"Some people from Congress, BJP and media said that Bharti should not work for the people", he added.
"I got a letter from the Uganda High Commission appreciating what we had done, because a lot of Ugandan women are brought to India on pretext of jobs, and are then forced into prostitution", he added.
12.13 pm: Kejriwal to hold dharna near rail bhavan
Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are both out of the car and are addressing supporters on a make shift dais. It is unclear as to what he is saying, but Manish Sisodia has confirmed that the dharna will be held outside rail bhavan, and the convoy will proceed no further.
The Delhi Chief Minster was earlier 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.
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