Hours after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed that the Delhi Police had placed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal under "house arrest" since his visit to the Singhu border on Monday, the CM on Tuesday, 8 December, said he would have gone and supported farmers in their 'Bharat Bandh' call if he hadn't been stopped.
Addressing members of his party from his residence, Kejriwal was quoted as saying, "I am glad the 'Bharat Bandh' was successful. I prayed for protesting farmers while sitting inside."
“I had planned that today I would go to the border not as CM but as a common man to express my solidarity with the farmers. I think they came to know about my plan and they did not let me go.”Delhi CM Kejriwal, as quoted by ANI
Earlier on Tuesday, AAP alleged that no one had been permitted to enter or leave Kejriwal’s residence.
Delhi Police Denies
However, the Delhi Police denied AAP’s claim, saying, “It is a general deployment to avoid any clash between the AAP and any other party. CM has not been put under house arrest.”
The police also took to Twitter to deny AAP’s allegations, attaching a photo of the CM’s residence as well to back their assertion. “He exercises his right to free movement within the law of the land. A picture of the house entrance says it all,” the Twitter handle of the North Delhi DCP posted.
Speaking to the media later, DCP Anto Alphonse was quoted as saying, "The deployment which is being seen outside the residence of CM Kejriwal is the regular deployment for the security of the CM. We're coordinating with the CM's residence. Anyone whom they say they want to allow inside, we will allow."
AAP vs Delhi Police
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia held a sit-in protest outside Kejriwal’s residence on Tuesday afternoon, ANI reported.
Speaking to reporters, Sisodia said, "The CM denied permission to convert stadiums into temporary jails for protesting farmers. Now, public is not being allowed to meet him. Does this mean he is under house arrest? Why are all these security personnel posted here?"
Countering the police's claims, the Aam Aadmi Party also tweeted pictures saying, "Huge police force deployed by BJP's Centre Govt to stop Arvind Kejriwal from stepping out and supporting farmers' movement."
At a press conference, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “The chief minister met farmers at the Singhu border yesterday. He had said that we'll serve them like 'sevadars' and support them.
After he returned, the Delhi Police barricaded his residence from all sides, putting him in a house-arrest like situation, at the behest of the Home Ministry.”
Bharadwaj further claimed that MLAs, who had a meeting with the CM on Monday, were beaten up by the police when they went to meet him. “Workers were not allowed to meet him either. BJP leaders are being made to sit outside his residence,” he alleged, according to ANI.
However, the Delhi Police special commissioner reiterated in a press conference that these claims are “totally baseless and unfounded”.
“There's absolutely no restriction whatsoever. The CM has been meeting his usual engagements and has been moving out of his residence. There's adequate security in the area to maintain peace and to prevent (any) untoward incident,” he said.
Support Farmers & Their Demands: Kejriwal
CM Kejriwal on Monday visited the Singhu border, where he also reviewed the facilities for farmers at the spot, ANI reported. Kejriwal was the first CM to visit a protest venue.
The AAP leader had extended support to the farmers’ call for the Bharat Bandh on 8 December.
Speaking during his visit to the Singhu border, the Delhi CM said, “We support all demands of farmers. Their issue and demands are valid. My party and I have stood with them from the very beginning.”
He added that at the beginning of their protests, the Delhi Police had sought permission to convert nine stadiums into jails. “I was pressurised but didn't permit,” he said.
He also reiterated that the AAP and its leaders have been serving farmers as 'sevadars'. “I haven't come here as the CM but as a 'sevadar'. Farmers are in trouble today, we should stand with them. AAP supports the 8 December ‘Bharat Bandh’, party workers will participate in it across the nation,” he said, according to ANI.
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