Dozens of opposition supporters were detained by police in the Indian capital on Tuesday as they sought to march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, protesting against the recent arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the foreign media has reported.
Kejriwal, a prominent opposition figure leading the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which has governed Delhi for the past decade, was apprehended weeks before India is set to commence general elections on April 19.
The financial crime-fighting agency caught him on corruption charges linked to the city’s liquor policy.
Remanded to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate until March 28, Kejriwal’s party contends that he has been unjustly detained in what they deem a “fabricated case.” However, the federal government and Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) refute allegations of political interference.
On Tuesday, supporters of Kejriwal attempted to march towards Modi’s residence but were intercepted by police approximately five kilometers away, where they had gathered.
Elsewhere in the city, police employed water cannons to disperse BJP supporters who were rallying to the Delhi Secretariat, demanding Kejriwal’s resignation. Some of these demonstrators were also detained.
State BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva asserted, “The chief minister of Delhi is corrupt and dishonest… he will have to resign.”
AAP leaders, however, maintained that Kejriwal would not step down, vowing to persist with protests demanding his release.
Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai declared to reporters, “This fight, this movement, will not cease due to the force exerted by your police. This voice is resonating across the nation.”
Due to security concerns, multiple metro stations were temporarily closed, as announced by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additionally, the Delhi Police issued a notice warning of traffic disruptions “in view of special Law and Order arrangement” in the city.
