Political turmoil in Delhi intensified with the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and ensuing protests by his party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the opposition. The Delhi Police, following these events, enhanced security measures around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence as AAP members called for a ‘gherao’ to show their dissent. Protests led to AAP workers being detained by police amidst dramatic scenes of confrontation.
The BJP, which has criticized Mr. Kejriwal’s governance from detention, organized a large march led by Delhi party chief Virendra Sachdeva, moving from Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium to the Delhi Secretariat. Concurrently, Gopal Rai, a Delhi minister from AAP, spoke at a press briefing, emphasizing the public’s unrest due to the treatment of the detained Chief Minister. In solidarity, AAP leaders altered their social media profiles depicting Mr. Kejriwal behind bars, while his wife Sunita Kejriwal relayed a message of persistence and hope from him, urging continued societal work and harmony.
Despite Kejriwal’s arrest on March 21 for accusations related to a defunct excise policy by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the AAP affirmed that he would continue his duties as chief minister even from jail. The party continued to defy pressure with Atishi, a Delhi minister, declaring that governance would not halt due to the incarceration. The Delhi High Court prepares to hear Kejriwal’s challenge to his arrest and custody order on an upcoming Wednesday.
The police, anticipating disruptions due to demonstrations, preemptively closed some Metro stations and advised against travel through certain routes typically busy with traffic. Section 144 was imposed around the PM’s residence, disallowing protests in the vicinity. With diversions set up across the city, the Delhi Traffic Police cautioned the public to steer clear of specified roads.
As accusations from the ED paint Kejriwal as the mastermind behind the illicit policy, the Chief Minister has countered, accusing the ruling BJP of exploiting investigative agencies for political ends. The BJP demands his resignation, but the AAP shows no sign of capitulating, planning even larger nationwide protests, according to Gopal Rai. Kejriwal’s high-profile arrest has prompted a fierce political face-off in the capital city as both sides mobilize supporters for a showdown.