The Aam Aadmi Party will take to the streets on Tuesday to protest against the arrest of its supremo Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy case. The party has called for a ‘gherao’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on 7 Lok Kalyan Marg to protest against the arrest of the Delhi Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, a counter-protest by the Bharatiya Janata Party is also on the cards to demand the resignation of the Delhi CM.
Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 from his residence in Delhi and will be in the agency’s custody till Thursday.
- The Aam Aadmi Party will hit the streets in protest against the arrest of Kejriwal at around 11 am. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann along with other top party leaders will be present during the protest against the Central government.
- Given the protest, the Delhi police have strengthened security at Modi’s residence and have also beefed up security in several other parts of the national capital.
- “Robust security arrangements have been made. We have installed layers of security to maintain law and order in the area,” said a Delhi Traffic Police officer, adding that the movement is likely to be affected in parts of New Delhi and Central Delhi due to the protest.
#WATCH | Security heightened with the deployment of police outside Patel Chowk metro station, given AAP’s PM residence ‘gherao’ protest against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in a liquor policy case. pic.twitter.com/PFkdhqeaUc
— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2024
- Ahead of the protest, Section 144 has been imposed around the prime minister’s residence and no one will be allowed to hold a protest, said the Delhi Traffic Police officer.
- The plan to ‘gherao’ PM residence against Kejriwal’s arrest was announced earlier by Delhi Minister Gopal Rai who also said that “mega protests” would be held nationwide.
- A protest march is also scheduled to be held by the BJP demanding the resignation of Kejriwal from the CM post.
- The saffron party will take on streets at around 11 am from Feroz Shah Kotla stadium to Delhi Secretariat via ITO.
- The march will be attended by senior leaders of BJP’s Delhi unit including Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva.
- The AAP national convener has been accused of soliciting kickbacks from liquor traders in exchange for favours, as per the claims by the ED.
- The allegations have been refuted by Kejriwal who accused the BJP-led Central government of “manipulating investigative agencies for political motives”.
