Delhi Cabinet ministers Saurabh Bahradwaj, Atishi and several other AAP workers were detained by police on Friday after they staged a protest condemning the arrest of party convener Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.
The party leaders and supporters were taken away from ITO, where the police had
invoked section 144.
“I have been detained by Delhi Police while peacefully protesting at ITO. First, these people arrest the Chief Minister of Delhi in false cases, and now those participating in peaceful protests are also being arrested. If this isn’t the murder of democracy, then what is?” Delhi Water Minister Atishi posted on ‘X’.
As Bharadwaj was taken away by the police, he told reporters that Kejriwal’s family members were put under house arrest and not allowed to meet anyone. He later uploaded a video of him at the Alipur police station along with his party workers who were singing “Mera rang de basanti chola”.
He claimed the people and Kejriwal’s supporters are pained to see how their leader was arrested in the middle of the night.
The minister reiterated that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was unable to show any money trail in the case.
Meanwhile, AAP supporters began protesting at ITO and other places in the national capital this morning against the arrest of the chief minister. They also raised slogans of “Arvind tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare sath hain” (Arvind you keep up the fight, we are with you).
A large number of security personnel were deployed outside the AAP headquarters in Central Delhi, while multiple barricades were put in place to restrict the party workers from heading towards the BJP office.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who met the family of Kejriwal, said the AAP chief will emerge as a bigger leader after this entire episode of his arrest.
Addressing a press conference here, he hit out at the Centre alleging that investigative agencies are being used as a tool against opposition leaders who have the gumption to question the establishment.
“The situation is nothing short of an undeclared emergency,” Mann added.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had announced the closure of its ITO station from 8 am to 6 pm, while security arrangements, especially near the AAP office and the ITO, had been stepped up by the police.
Security had also been increased near the chief minister’s residence, ED office and the Rouse Avenue courts.
Kejriwal was arrested on Thursday night after about two hours of grilling by the ED officials at his residence, and later spent his night at the ED’s office.
AAP leader Sandeep Pathak said the central government was attempting to finish opposition parties, adding that the party has faith in the judiciary. “There could be a delay but ultimately justice will be delivered and truth will prevail,” he said.