AAP Protests Seeking Arvind Kejriwal's Release, BJP Wants His Resignation

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New Delhi: Several AAP members were detained today in Delhi as they protested against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case.

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Several AAP leaders and workers – including women – were seen being shoved and dragged into the buses in which they were taken to various police stations in the national capital.
While the Aam Aadmi Party had called a ‘gherao’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, the BJP is taking out a mega march demanding Mr Kejriwal’s resignation, calling his ‘work from jail’ plan a sham.
Police said the AAP members did not have the permission to protest. “There is no permission to hold protest. We also got information that protesters will gather at the Patel Chowk metro station. In view of that, we stepped up security arrangements,” said Devesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi.
A protest was organised by the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday as well – in which the representatives of INDIA bloc also took part. At a joint press meet, Delhi minister Gopal Rai said there is anger among the people over the manner in which Mr Kejriwal was arrested.
The BJP has been demanding that Arvind Kejriwal step down as the chief minister after his arrest. However, the AAP insists that Mr Kejriwal will remain the chief minister of Delhi, even if that meant functioning from inside the jail.
AAP leaders have changed their display pictures on social media platforms to the one that shows Mr Kerjwal behind bars to express solidarity with their party chief.
In a message from jail – which was read out by his wife Sunita Kejriwal, the Delhi Chief Minister last week urged everyone to continue working for the society and not hate anyone, even those from the ruling BJP. “There are several forces within and outside India that are weakening the country. There is no jail that can keep him behind bars for long. I will come out soon and keep my promises,” the Delhi Chief Minister added in his message.
Arvind Kejriwal issued his first order from the ED lock-up on Sunday. “I want to tell the BJP, you can arrest Arvind Kejriwal and put him in jail, but you cannot imprison his love and sense of duty for Delhi’s people,” said Delhi minister Atishi, adding that the AAP leader may be in jail, but “no work will stop”.
The Delhi High Court will take up Arvind Kejriwal’s request on Wednesday in which he has challenged his arrest as well as a lower court’s order granting the ED his custody for seven days.
The Aam Aadmi Party chief was arrested on Thursday and, the next day, the Rouse Avenue court in Delhi had remanded him in the Probe Agency’s custody till March 28. The central agency has accused the AAP leader of being a “conspirator”. The ED believes the now-scrapped policy provided an impossibly high profit margin of nearly 185 per cent for retailers and 12 per cent for wholesalers.