Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues who wanted to protest outside the Union Home Ministry office over alleged police inaction were stopped on the way.
Mr. Kejriwal’s car was stopped right before Raisina Road, near Rail Bhawan in New Delhi, the seat of the Central government.
Police officials tried to persuade the Chief Minister not to proceed ahead.
A police official said the Delhi Chief Minister and his colleagues were barred from going ahead at least till noon since the Republic-Day Parade rehearsal was going on.
A posse of police personnel was deployed and there was a double layer of barricading on Rafi Marg and Raisina Road, which leads to North Block where the Union Home Ministry office is located.
Mr. Kejriwal and his ministers met in the morning at the Delhi Secretariat, from where they proceeded towards the home ministry office.
Delhi Police officials also reached the Delhi Secretariat to persuade Mr. Kejriwal to take security cover.
The Aam Aadmi Party has alleged that policemen did not cooperate with Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti during his vigilante-style raid on Wednesday night and on Minister Rakhi Birla’s complaint concerning “improper action” in a dowry case.
Mr. Kejriwal, accompanied by Cabinet colleagues Manish Sisodia, Somnath Bharti and Rakhi Birla, had met Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Friday last and demanded suspension of the “guilty” policemen by 10 a.m. on Monday, failing which they would protest in front of Home Ministry.
Delhi Police, which is under the Union Home Ministry, on Sunday imposed prohibitory orders banning unlawful assembly in New Delhi district, where the Union Home Ministry office is located in North Block.
Four metro stations closed
Four Metro stations near the North block will be closed today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ahead of a protest by the Aam Aadmi Party.
“As advised by Delhi Police, Patel Chowk, Central Sect, Udyog Bhawan and Race Course Metro stations will remain closed today from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in wake of dharna by AAP at North block,” a DMRC spokesperson said.
The interchange at Central Secretariat will continue and controlled exit of government employees from Central Secretariat will be allowed after checking their IDs, the spokesperson said.
