"Police hooliganism won't work": Saurabh Bharadwaj reacts to assault FIR
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj calls police actions hooliganism after an FIR was filed against him and other party workers for allegedly assaulting a constable.
In a heated political standoff in the national capital, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj has lashed out at the Delhi Police, accusing them of attempting to intimidate party leadership through the registration of fabricated cases. His sharp reaction follows the filing of an FIR involving Bharadwaj, Jarnail Singh, and several AAP workers regarding an alleged assault on a Delhi Police head constable.
Allegations of Intimidation and False Cases
Responding to the legal action, Bharadwaj claimed that the police are using legal machinery as a tool of harassment. He asserted that the law enforcement agency is attempting to strike fear into the hearts of political workers, a tactic he insists will fail.
"Police personnel are scared. They think that implicating us in false cases will scare us. This won't work. This hooliganism by Police won't work," Bharadwaj stated.
The Delhi Police confirmed that the FIR has been registered under specific sections concerning the obstruction of a public servant in the discharge of official duties and the assault of a public servant.
The Vikaspuri Protest and the Tilak Nagar Row
The tension traces back to Monday, when Saurabh Bharadwaj, accompanied by a group of party MLAs and councillors, marched to the Vikaspuri Police Station. The protest was aimed at demanding an FIR against Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh.
The demand for action stems from a viral video that surfaced recently, which allegedly shows Parvesh Sahib Singh slapping a local youth. The incident occurred during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar, following a confrontation where opposition leaders had raised concerns regarding sub-standard road construction by the PWD.
Arvind Kejriwal Slams BJP Over Corruption and Conduct
The controversy has also drawn intense criticism from AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. The former Delhi Chief Minister used the incident to attack the BJP, highlighting both the alleged physical assault and the quality of infrastructure in the city.
Kejriwal pointed to the deteriorating state of the roads in Tilak Nagar, claiming that the construction was of extremely poor quality. He made the following observations:
- Infrastructure Quality: He alleged that the newly built roads were "peeling off by hand," a level of decay he claimed was never seen during AAP's decade-long tenure.
- Allegations of Corruption: Kejriwal suggested that the substandard work was a direct result of widespread corruption in the project.
- Conduct of Officials: He condemned the act of slapping a citizen, stating, "This is not your father's country; you cannot slap someone like this. This country belongs to 140 crore people."
The former Chief Minister has formally demanded the immediate arrest of Parvesh Sahib Singh in connection with the video evidence.