Plea in Delhi HC for security to CM Arvind Kejriwal

 In the wake of an attack on Aam Aadmi Party headquarters today, a plea was hurriedly made in the Delhi High Court for directions to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal not refuse security offered to him.

An advocate mentioned the issue before a bench of justices B D Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul and was asked by it to file a proper petition which will come up for hearing in due course.
"The Chief Minister is refusing security offered to him by the Delhi Police time and again. He is exposing himself and his cabinet ministers to grave danger," advocate Anoop Awasthi submitted before the bench.

He sought directions to the Centre, Government of National Capital Territory and Delhi Police to provide Kejriwal round-the-clock security.

Awasthi said, "India has lost many leaders in attacks and it is a prevalent demand of residents of Delhi that Kejriwal should take security cover."

He contended, "Since the Chief Minister is not an individual in isolation but an institution himself, he can be subjected to directions issued by a constitutional court."

Awasthi sought an urgent hearing of the matter on the ground that the AAP headquarters was attacked this morning and that there is a threat to his security, but the bench refused the plea, saying, "That is for the security agencies to look after."

Activists of a right-wing group today attacked and vandalised the AAP headquarters in Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh with bricks and stones to protest against party leader Prashant Bhushan's remarks on referendum in Kashmir.

Around 40 activists of Hindu Raksha Dal broke flower pots kept outside the AAP's office, barely a kilometer from his residence and tore party posters. Some glass doors were also smashed in the attack.

There were no security personnel present at the party office as Kejriwal has turned down the security offered to him by Ghaziabad and Delhi Police.