AAP Protest Highlights: BJP's Bansuri Swaraj demands Kejriwal's resignation

The DMRC has opened the entry and exit nine hours after shutting the gates of Lok Kalyan Marg metro station due to security reasons. Two gates of Patel Chowk and Central Secretariat metro station were also opened

BJP candidate from New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, Bansuri Swaraj, joined a state BJP protest demanding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's resignation. "Running the government from jail is unfavourable to the people of Delhi. I want to ask Arvind Kejriwal, who used to lecture other leaders, why his sense of morals is asleep. You should resign based on ethics," she said.

"This will be an occasion where all big leaders of INDIA alliance will come together. The entire country will raise its voice against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal just ahead of the (Lok Sabha) elections."

Workers and leaders of Congress, AAP, Goa Forward Party and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) took part in the protest against Kejriwal's arrest in Goa's Panaji city. Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Patkar alleged that the government machinery is now above the Election Commission under the BJP-led NDA.

AAP Protest LIVE Updates: AAP leader Somnath Bharti has taken a dig at the Election Commission of India after being detained at a police station in Delhi, for protesting against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

"I am detained in the Police station: Sector 9, Dwarka for hours. I am the INDIA Alliance candidate from New Delhi Loksabha Constituency but am being denied a level playing field as I can't attend my public meetings scheduled in advance," said Bharti.

"@ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI you are neither responding to my messages nor taking action against BJP's unconstitutional acts to botch and rig the loksabha 2024 election. You should change your name to Modi Aayog," he added.

AAP Protest LIVE Updates: Many AAP leaders and workers were detained at Patel Chowk on Tuesday as they tried to march towards the PM's residence to protest the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Claiming that the Delhi Police has turned the national capital into a "fortress", Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai told a press conference that the way the BJP-led central government has imposed restrictions under section 144 "across the city", it seems Delhi has become a "police state", reported news agency PTI.

AAP Protest LIVE Updates: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers on Tuesday staged a protest in Ambala and in other parts of Haryana against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

The workers gathered near the BJP's Ambala City office and raised slogans against the BJP-led government at the Centre. Protests were also held in other parts of Haryana, including Karnal, Rohtak and Faridabad.

AAP Protest LIVE Updates: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will organise a rally at Ramlila Maidan on March 31, protesting against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

"The people of Delhi are angry over the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. Protests are being held since that day, but the central government thinks that they will suppress this voice using police force. Today, people were arrested when they were marching towards PM's residence. This battle will not stop, it will reach Ramlila Maidan at 10 am on March 31. People across Delhi are preparing to go to Ramlila Maidan, leaders of INDIA alliance are also reaching there," said AAP leader Gopal Rai as quoted by news agency PTI.

Here are a few stories related to CM Kejriwal's arrest in Delhi and the protests taken out by AAP following the arrest.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a counter-protest in Delhi on Tuesday, calling for the resignation of Arvind Kejriwal. Led by Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, the party marched from Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium to Delhi Secretariat via ITO, with participation from several senior BJP leaders.

"The CM of Delhi is corrupt and dishonest and he has looted the people of Delhi. We are going to the Secretariat to demand his resignation... The government is not running from the jail. Just like AAP's character, the orders are also fake... Arvind Kejriwal has to resign," Sachdeva told ANI.

In the midst of ongoing Aam Aadmi Party protests, Niharika Rai, the Secretary of Delhi Govt's Planning Department, reassured on Tuesday that public services, social welfare schemes, and subsidies remain "unaffected" despite rumors suggesting otherwise following the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. She emphasised that people should not be misled by fear-mongering or malicious disinformation regarding the status of these essential services.

"Public services, social welfare schemes and subsidies are not affected by the arrest of the CM. All public services, social welfare schemes and subsidies currently given by the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi shall continue uninterrupted. People should not be misled by any fear-mongering and malicious disinformation in this regard," said a press note issued by Delhi Govt's Secretary of Planning Department Niharika Rai.

Delhi Minister & AAP leader Gopal Rai says, "...The people of Delhi are not able to understand how Arvind Kejriwal was sent to jail and Sharad Reddy was granted bail when both were booked under the same charges...The people of Delhi will continue to fight for Arvind Kejriwal."

AAP Protest LIVE Updates: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has taken a dig at jailed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal giving directions about running the government.

"A government cannot run from jail. You can run a gang from jail but not a government. A government can run only as per the Constitution," said BJP MP Manoj Tiwari

AAP Protest LIVE Updates: BRS leader K Kavitha brought to Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi in connection with the excise policy case. Kavitha is in Enforcement Directorate's custody currently.

AAP Protest LIVE Updates: Delhi Govt’s Secretary of Planning dept, Niharika Rai has said that all public services, social welfare schemes and subsidies would continue uninterrupted despite CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.

"Public services, social welfare schemes and subsidies are not affected by the arrest of the CM. All public services social welfare schemes and subsidies currently given by Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi shall continue uninterrupted. People should not be misled by any fear-mongering and malicious disinformation in this regard," says a press note issued by Delhi Govt’s Secretary of Planning dept, Niharika Rai.

AAP Protest LIVE Updates: BJP MP Harsh Vardhan has urged Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to resign as the AAP leader is in ED's custody in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy.

"Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is in jail. Therefore, he should resign morally and give his responsibility to someone else. Arvind Kejriwal still holding his position shows that he is greedy and does not want to leave his chair because of his insecurity," said Harsh Vardhan as quoted by news agency PTI.

AAP leader Adil Ahmad Khan said, "It is very unfortunate. This is dictatorship. People are very angered over the arrest of CM Kejriwal in a fake case. AAP workers and Delhi people were planning to march towards PM's residence. But with the kind of police deployment that is there, it is shameful. I want to say to the BJP that their hooliganism will not continue for long. We will march towards the PMO."

Delhi Police detained Harjot Singh Bains, Punjab Minister and AAP leader, outside the Patel Nagar Metro station.

The Delhi police make announcements outside the Patel Chowk Metro station addressing the AAP protestors. They informed that Section 144 had been imposed, no permission had been granted for protests, and the area needed to be cleared within 5 minutes.

Given the planned 'gherao' protest at the Prime Minister's residence by AAP regarding the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in a liquor policy case, security measures were intensified with police deployment outside the Patel Chowk metro station.

AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj says, "Even from the ED custody, Delhi CM is worried about the health care of the state... He is worried that because he is jailed, the people of Delhi should not suffer because of it... The CM has received information that people are facing difficulties in the tests carried out at the Mohalla clinics. He has directed me to take steps to resolve this... I want to ensure the people of Delhi that even of your CM is in jail, he is only thinking about you..."

The traffic movement in several parts of Delhi is likely to be affected. In an advisory on the traffic restrictions, the Delhi Police said, "No vehicles will be permitted to stop or park anywhere on Tughlak road, Safdarjung Road, or Kemal Ataturk Marg. General entry for public will not be allowed."

"Vehicles found parked on the above roads shall be towed away and prosecuted for improper parking and disobedience of lawful instructions. Towed vehicles would be parked in traffic pit at Kali Bari Marg," it read.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced on Tuesday that the Lok Kalyan Marg Metro Station will remain closed until further notice due to security concerns related to the Aam Adami Party's planned protest at the Prime Minister's residence following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Additionally, DMRC stated that gate no. 3 of Patel Chowk Metro Station and gate no. 5 of Central Secretariat Metro Station will also be closed until further notice.

AAP leader Durgesh Pathak said, “The people of the entire Delhi and the country are angry and are expressing their anger against the BJP. PM Modi has jailed a leader (Arvind Kejriwal), whose only aim is to take India forward. He hates Arvind Kejriwal and is afraid of him.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Devesh Kumar Mahla said amid AAP's plans tp gherao PM Modi's residence, "Considering everything we have deployed security at PM residence and other important points. There is no restriction on boarding/deboarding at all Delhi metro stations. 50 patrolling vehicles are present in New Delhi area today."