Monday, January 20, 2014

Live: AAP dharna in keeping with our manifesto, says Yadav

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.

 

 

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:

 

 

 

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

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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