Cong slams Kejriwal over protests

The Congress and its ally NCP on Wednesday went ballistic against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s two-day protest to press for action against some policemen.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: “Theatrics and drama, use of objectionable language even against the worst of the enemies and flagrant violation of the law and the Constitution have no place in a democracy. The Congress humbly and respectfully urges organisers of the dharna to look within and take a call of conscience and see whether their actions are in tune with their professed policies.”

Congress leaders will meet Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Thursday with a plea for action against Delhi ministers Somnath Bharti and Rakhi Birla. They would contend that an FIR was lodged in the controversial midnight raid case involving Bharti. Several women activists have protested against the minister’s action. They claimed that a Ugandan national identified Bharti as the leader of the AAP volunteers, which strengthened the case.

NCP general secretary D P Tripathi said the Delhi Police committed a mistake by not arresting “the lawless law minister”, who violated the law on 11 counts, while leading the raid.

“If Kejriwal has the courage and guts, he will write a single-line letter to the Congress to withdraw its support to his government,” Tripathi said.

Taking an exception to the way Kejriwal talked about Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Tripathi said the chief minister stood for “chosen madness” as he “trampled justice, rule of law and the Constitution”.

The NCP leader also said Kejriwal’s statement that the move to send two police officers on leave was a victory of the people of Delhi, was “unimaginably foolish remarks”.