AAP protest demand spurs increased security measures in response to Kejriwal’s incarceration

In an effort to draw attention to the anomalies in the now-cancelled 2021–22 Delhi excise policy, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called for nationwide protests against “dictatorship” outside the BJP headquarters on Friday at 10 a.m. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest for his alleged involvement prompted the deployment of extra police forces and barricades in the center of the nation’s capital.

“I call on my fellow citizens to demonstrate against this tyranny in front of BJP offices around the nation. At a midnight news conference, Delhi Minister Gopal Rai and other senior AAP leaders said, “We will gather at the AAP office [in Delhi] at 10am on Friday and then protest outside the BJP headquarters.”

Rai referred to Kejriwal’s detention as a “announcement of dictatorship” and the “murder of democracy.” He said that anybody might experience such an incident and have their voice silenced if Kejriwal could be taken into custody. “Today marks the start of the battle. Kejriwal is an idea, not a specific person.

He said that the BJP believes it would only be able to win 40 seats and connected Kejriwal’s detention to the establishment of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). He said that the BJP was pursuing opposition figures for this purpose. “They have gone beyond all bounds today.”

The conflict between the BJP and the AAP has shifted, according to AAP Rajya Sabha member Sandeep Pathak. “The people of this country are fighting the BJP, as well as those who support clean politics in the nation.”

Atishi, a minister in Delhi, said that Kejriwal’s legal battle would go from the streets to the courts. “On Friday, the matter will be heard by the Supreme Court. It is unlawful to make this arrest. They detained Kejriwal and Hemant Soren, the former chief minister of Jharkhand, and they blocked the Congress accounts.

On Thursday night, Kejriwal filed a petition with the Supreme Court contesting his arrest and requesting an expedited hearing.

Arvinder Singh Lovely, the head of the Delhi Congress, participated in an AAP demonstration on Thursday outside of Kejriwal’s home. “They have frozen our funds and taken Soren and Kejriwal into custody. Which way is the democracy in the nation going? Together with our INDIA bloc ally, we shall vigorously contest the elections.

Ahead of the AAP’s scheduled demonstration, Delhi Police have increased the number of officers dressed in anti-riot gear and installed multi-layer barricading on the roads leading to the BJP headquarters. In preparation of the demonstration, they have warned commuters to steer clear of routes that connect to central Delhi, since they have closed the highways that lead to the BJP headquarters and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office, where Kejriwal was transported after his detention.

The AAP anticipates a large turnout and has urged all Delhi legislators and council members to organize people at the BJP headquarters.

In spite of the ban on meetings outside the BJP headquarters and the ED office, the Delhi Police stepped up their checks at the capital’s entrance gates to stop AAP members from coming from nearby states. According to the news agency PTI, busses have been sent to hold these demonstrators.

Kejriwal was taken into custody on Thursday after an interrogation by the ED at his home, just after the Delhi High Court denied his request for temporary protection. He ignored nine summonses from the ED, which led to his detention a few weeks before to the general elections.

According to the AAP, Kejriwal would remain the chief minister and, if necessary, lead the administration from behind bars. It has been warning of the imminence of his arrest and planning for it for months.