Arrest our leaders but clear Delhi’s crucial bills: AAP

AAP leaders said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was blocking Delhi’s progress by not clearing “crucial” bills that had gone to the Centre for approval.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday said that the detention of its 52 MLAs, including deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, was uncalled for as they were not violating any law.

AAP MLAs after being detained at the Parliament Street police station on Sunday.(Arun Sharma/HT photo)

“How can the efforts of elected representatives to meet the Prime Minister, another elected representative, cause a law and order problem? The MLAs just wanted to go and surrender in front of him, nothing more,” said AAP’s Delhi convener, Dilip Pandey.

AAP leaders said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was blocking Delhi’s progress by not clearing “crucial” bills that had gone to the Centre for approval.

“The Centre this week returned all the bills the Delhi Assembly had sent to it. The Aam Aadmi Party appeals to the Prime Minister to arrest all its party MLAs, ministers and leaders, if he so wishes, but not to take revenge from the people of Delhi for the BJP’s 2015 electoral defeat in the state. The PM should allow Delhi’s elected government to function… The people of Delhi are suffering because of the Centre’s petty, partisan and vendetta politics. This is not the governance that the people have voted him in for,” a statement issued by the party said.

On Sunday, after the detention of 52 MLAs, a number of AAP leaders reached the Parliament Street police station to wait for their colleague’s release. All the detained MLAs were released after three hours.

The AAP leaders alleged that Sangam Vihar MLA Dinesh Mohaniya was illegally arrested on Saturday under “frivolous and motivated charges”, and that a complaint was registered against Sisodia for “merely doing his duty.” Party leaders said that the police must act on complaints but not when they are “politically motivated”.

The party also lamented the Centre’s ‘interference’.

“The Arvind Kejriwal government was given a massive mandate by the people of Delhi in 2015. The Delhi government has been trying to perform its duties, working round the clock for the people of Delhi. However, the Centre’s constant interference in the working of the government and their attempt at creating obstacles along the way shows the Prime Minister’s vindictive attitude towards his opponents,” a party statement said.

Senior leader, Sanjay Singh said rejection of Delhi’s bills had benefitted only “anti-people agents”. “What purpose has this served? Private school mafias, corrupt officers and crony capitalists are the only gainers. Are you openly supporting anti-people agents of society?” he asked

AAP leaders also asked why no action had been taken against four BJP councilors who were caught on camera allegedly assaulting a AAP councillor during a joint session of the municipal corporations.