Kejriwal dares Dikshit to stop his party workers

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday -- the ninth day of his indefinite fast against inflated power and water bills -- warned CM Sheila Dikshit not to stop his party members from delivering protest letters of about 7 lakh Delhiites to her on Monday.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday -- the ninth day of his indefinite fast against inflated power and water bills -- warned chief minister Sheila Dikshit not to stop his party members from delivering protest letters of about 7 lakh Delhiites to her on Monday.

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Ever since Kejriwal started his indefinite fast on March 23, at Sundar Nagari in northeast Delhi, party volunteers have fanned out across Delhi to garner support of Delhiites who have reportedly pledged to not pay inflated power and water bills.

The AAP claims the bills have been inflated due to “corruption and in connivance of officials of the private discoms”.

The party said that till Saturday, they had received support letters from more than 6.3 lakh Delhiites and “the number was expected to cross 7 lakh by Sunday.”

Kejriwal claimed when AAP leaders informed Delhi Police about their plan to proceed from Sundar Nagari in 272 autorickshaws, representing each ward of the city, towards Dikshit’s residence on Monday morning, “the deputy commissioner of police (northeast) denied permission on the grounds that so many auto rickshaws carrying the national flag cannot be allowed”.

VV Chaudhary, additional commissioner of police, (northeast), said: “We do not have any issues if only common men walk in a procession. But the AAP wants to ply many autorickshaws, which can cause problems to commuters. Moreover, they have not sought any permission. We have asked them to stick to the rules.”

Doctors, meanwhile, said AAP leader Kejriwal’s health parameters are still within normal range.