Delhi Excise policy case: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday staged a protest against the arrest of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in connection with the excise policy case across states. Earlier today, several workers of AAP gathered at the party office at DDU Marg in Delhi, raising slogans against the Centre and demanding the release of Singh. AAP has alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Singh as he raised issues related to the Adani Group in Parliament.
Police lob tear gas shells to disperse AAP workers in Chandigarh
The protest in Chandigarh however took a dramatic turn after protestors clashed with police as they were trying to force their way through barricades to 'gherao' the office of Punjab BJP. In order to disperse the protestors, the Chandigarh Police used water cannons and hurled tear gas shells against the AAP workers. Police also used batons against the Aam Aadmi Party workers, who set on fire an effigy decrying the arrest of their leader.
Adequate arrangements were done
Barricades were raised to prevent AAP leaders and volunteers from heading towards the Punjab BJP office. When the protesters, several of them senior leaders in the party, tried to force their way through barricades, police used a water cannon and lobbed tear gas shells to scatter them.
Taking cognisance of the AAP's protest, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak earlier today had said that they have made adequate arrangements to contain the protesters. "We have made proper arrangements and there are enough police personnel. We do not want law and order to deteriorate at any cost. We have been constantly communicating with the cadre (of AAP)," he said.
AAP workers hold anti-BJP protest in Jammu
AAP workers also staged a protest in Jammu city against the arrest of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. Led by Rajesh Pargotra, Provincial Vice President Jammu, several workers of the party gathered here and raised slogans against the BJP and demanded Singh's release.
"The protest is against the arrest of our MP Sanjay Singh. BJP has not acted in any of the cases against their leaders. BJP leadership is acting out of fear of defeat in the 2024 election," Pargotra told reporters here.
Party leaders were present at protest sites
The protest by the party workers witnessed the presence of several party leaders including Atishi, Gopal Rai, Jarnail Singh, Priyanka Kakkar and Reena Gupta. AAP leader Gopal Rai during the protest alleged that the arrest of Sanjay Singh was an attempt by the BJP to win the upcoming elections as they do not have faith in their alliance. "BJP got the survey done across the country and is aware it is going to be defeated. It does not have faith in NDA, and that's why they are attempting to win elections by making arrests through ED," Delhi minister Gopal Rai alleged at the protest.
