Bridge battle between BJP, AAP intensifies

The battle over Signature Bridge inauguration between the AAP and the BJP intensified with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party's leaders approaching Delhi Police against BJP Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari.

The AAP's Rajya Sabha MP N D Gupta submitted a complaint to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik accusing Tiwari of indulging in violence at an event last Sunday, following a "pre-planned conspiracy".

Their intention was to "commit violence and assault" Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and ministers, Gupta, who provided an "eye-witness account" of the event, claimed. Gupta led an AAP delegation to the Commissioner's office to submit the complaint.

Accusing the police of "inaction," Gupta said he and another party MP, Sushil Gupta, witnessed the incident and were ready to record their statements.

"In my view, the police is duty-bound to register an FIR against Tiwari and other hoodlums, who committed serious cognisable offence by obstructing public servants on duty, and assaulting them," Gupta said.

The inauguration of the newly-built Signature Bridge had turned ugly with Tiwari, also a Lok Sabha MP, entering into a scuffle with policemen and an AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan trying to push the former off the dais. There were video footage of both the incidents.

The police has registered three FIRs in connection with the incident, including one against Khan.

"I find it extremely shocking that the police officers present at the Signature Bridge on Sunday have not filed an FIR despite a serious cognisable crime having been committed in front of them when they were on official duty. I am also shocked that no officer of the Delhi government considered it important enough to report such a serious situation to the police," Gupta said in his complaint.

"In my view, the police was duty-bound to register an FIR against Tiwari and other hoodlums who committed this serious cognisable offence against police officers on duty. Unfortunately, that has not happened so far for reasons best known to those officers who were on duty that day," he said.