New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal decided to end his protest after he was categorically told that force would be used to evict him and his supporters from the protest site, adjoining Rajpath, and that he would be solely responsible for the consequences.
Highly placed sources said that the government decision to use force, if necessary, to clear the area outside Rail Bhavan, close to the route of the Republic Day parade, was conveyed to Kejriwal on January 21.
Kejrwal, his cabinet colleagues and hundreds of Aam Admi Party (AAP) supporters had been sitting in protest for two days demanding the suspension of policemen who had refused to listen to his cabinet colleagues.
With the Republic Day parade just days away and the impending arrival of the chief guest, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the government made up its mind to act on January 22, a day before the parade’s full-dress rehearsal barely 100 metres away.
This decision was conveyed to Kejriwal who, in turn, despatched his close aide and senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.
Jung told him of the government’s decision and that Kejriwal would be solely responsible for any violence that might erupt and its consequences in the shape of injuries to his people.
Yadav sought a face-saver in the shape of the sacking of the two “errant” policemen, the sources said, but Jung refused.
As a compromise, Yadav then asked that they be sent on leave. To which, Jung agreed, “as one of the officers was going on leave anyway”, the sources added.
The announcement finally came late on Tuesday evening around 7.45pm. A message from Jung was conveyed to Kejriwal that he was issuing orders for the two police officers to go on leave. Kejriwal announced that he was calling off the protest following the “partial victory”.
Jung’s letter had asked Kejriwal to withdraw his protest “in view of the sacrosanct occasion of the Republic Day and the perceived security situation”.
Meanwhile, the central government informed the Delhi High Court that the AAP has not responded to questions on its source of funds. A division bench of Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Jayant Nath asked the petitioner, advocate M L Sharma, to include the AAP as a respondent and posted the case for February 5.
Appearing for the home ministry, Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra told the bench that the government had written twice to the party to ascertain the source of its funds. But the AAP has not responded.
“(The) government sent two notices to AAP... We are still waiting for their response. We (will) continue our inquiry,” Mehra said.
Earlier, the court had directed the central government to go through the details of money donated to AAP since its inception on November 26, 2012 and take action if anything was found in violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).
The court was hearing a public interest litigation seeking a criminal case against Kejriwal and others for allegedly receiving foreign funds in violation of the law. Petitioner Sharma also sought seizure of accounts and funds secured by AAP members. The plea said the FCRA prohibits funding from foreign countries for a political party. IANS
