Arvind Kejriwal arrest: BJP seeks CM's resignation, holds protest; AAP attempts to gherao PM Modi's house

AAP protest: Arvind Kejriwal is currently under ED's custody till March 28.

New Delhi: Several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers were detained by the Delhi police on Tuesday, after they tried to march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's house to hold the ‘gherao’ protest over Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest. The Bharatiya Janata Party, meanwhile, has launched a separate protest, demanding Kejriwal's resignation.

Security personnel detain Punjab minster and AAP leader Harjot Singh Bains during their protest outside Patel Chowk metro station against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. (PTI)

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested last week by the agency in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to the liquor policy scam. The BJP has been demanding Kejriwal's resignation as the Delhi chief minister on moral grounds. Arvind Kejriwal is currently under ED's custody till March 28.

Here are top points on the AAP's protest against PM Modi over Arvind Kejriwal

1. Raising slogans of "Inquilab Zindabad" and "Kejriwal Zindabad", Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and leaders reached the area's metro station in groups. Later, scores of AAP workers, including Punjab minister Harjot Singh Bains and Somnath Bharti, were detained. "Delhi Police for no rhyme or reason along with Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla and many volunteers of AAP and supporters of Arvind Kejriwal Ji. It's shocking to see that while the Delhi Police are arresting peacefully protesting AAP supporters, they are doing nothing to stop @BJP4India," Bharti posted on X.
2. The Bharatiya Janata Party launched a protest in Delhi demanding Arvind Kejriwal's resignation. State BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva said: “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.”
3. BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj said Kejriwal should resign over on ethical grounds. "Running the government from the jail is unfavourable to the people of Delhi... I want to ask Arvind Kejriwal why is his soul asleep. You should resign based on ethics... They are doing press conferences to create false sympathy," she said.
4. AAP leader Gopal Rai said there is no need for him to resign. "Why should he (Arvind Kejriwal) resign? We have a government with a thumping majority. A referendum was also conducted, and everyone said that Arvind Kejriwal should run the government from the jail," he said.
5. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Devesh Kumar Mahla said they have deployed additional security around PM Modi's residence. He said the police have also deployed 50 patrolling vehicles in the New Delhi area. "There is no restriction on boarding/deboarding at all Delhi metro stations," he said.
6. “Section 144 has already been imposed, and no one is allowed to protest here (in New Delhi). Therefore, we have deployed adequate security personnel. We will detain those who will protest here,” he warned.
7. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said on X that due to security reasons, “entry/exit at Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station, Gate no 3 of Patel Chowk Metro Station and Gate no 5 of Central Secretariat Metro station will remain closed till further notice.”
8. AAP leader Durgesh Pathak said the people of Delhi are angry with the BJP for arresting Arvind Kejriwal. "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," he said.
9. The Delhi Traffic Police has arranged seven diversion points for the smooth movement of vehicles in view of the protest. "Commuters must avoid Kemal Ataturk Marg, Safdarjung Road, Akbar Road and Teen Murti Marg on Tuesday in view of the protest," an officer said.
10. Delhi minister Gopal Rai had announced AAP's plans to "gherao" the prime minister's residence on Tuesday to protest against Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.
11. Arvind Kejriwal is accused of soliciting kickbacks from liquor traders in exchange for favours. The ED has called him the "kingpin and key conspirator" behind the now-scrapped policy.
12. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claims Prime Minister Narendra Modi is afraid of Arvind Kejriwal and the latter was arrested to prevent him from campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.
13. The Opposition's INDIA bloc has called a rally on March 31 against Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.
14. Meanwhile, AAP leaders didn't celebrate Holi on Monday. "Holi is not just a festival, but a symbol of the victory of good over evil, a symbol of justice over cruelty. Today, every leader of the Aam Aadmi Party is fighting this evil, cruelty and injustice day and night. This year, the Aam Aadmi Party has resolved that we will not play with colours, we will not celebrate Holi," Atishi wrote on X.

With inputs from PTI, ANI