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Chilli powder thrown at Kejriwal in secretariat

Last Updated 20 November 2018, 13:50 IST

A man threw chilli powder at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal just outside his office on Tuesday, prompting AAP to accuse BJP of conspiring with city police to target their party chief.
The incident took place at around 2:25 PM when Kejriwal came out of his room in Delhi Secretariat to head home for lunch.

Anil Kumar Sharma (40) reached Kejriwal, who was accompanied by his personal secretary Bibhav Kumar and two personnel security officers, and handed over a paper, which the Chief Minister gave it to one of the officials.

Suddenly, according to the CCTV footage shared by AAP leaders on Twitter, Sharma bent in a gesture to seek Kejriwal's blessings and then threw chilli powder at the Chief Minister. In the melee, Kejriwal's specs fell down while police personnel caught Sharma.

Sources claimed Kumar was targeting Kejriwal's eyes but it seemed to have been spared any damage.

Sharma was taken by the police, who questioned him. Sources said he had some grievances to be addressed but it could not be initially ascertained why he chose to attack the Chief Minister.

The AAP chose to up the ante over the incident with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia addressing a press conference where he said his party would not be "cowed down" by "petty tactics" by the BJP.

Denying any involvement, BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari said such incidents "cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody" and called for a high-level probe.

Sisodia said it was "surprising" that such an attack took at a high-security area. "Recently the BJP Delhi chief reached near the stage during the inauguration of the signature bridge. BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack Kejriwal," he said.

"Shocking lapse of security. Is this Delhi Police's incompetent effort to protect an elected Chief Minister? "While today just the Chief Minister's glasses fell to the floor and broke, an unacceptable security lapse nonetheless. Imagine if an attacker were to be wielding a more dangerous weapon. Who were to have prevented a tragedy from occurring?" tweeted AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadda, who was behind Kejriwal when the incident took place.

Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of 'khaini', or chewing tobacco, they said. After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, PTI quoted officials as saying.

In a statement, Delhi Police said security personnel removed Sharma aside and found him carrying a pouch in his hand, which got torn and apparently containing chilly powder. "Sharma was visiting the Secretariat with reference of some staff. He has been detained for further questioning," the statement added.

Suspect Anil who threw chilli powder at @ArvindKejriwal
(Images provided by @AamAadmiParty)@DeccanHerald pic.twitter.com/DVHY9O333Z

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(Published 20 November 2018, 10:22 IST)

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