Saurabh Bhardwaj detained during India Gate protest march; Kejriwal slams police action
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj was detained during a march to India Gate. Arvind Kejriwal slams the police action as shocking.
Chaos erupted in the national capital on Sunday as Delhi Police detained several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers, including the Delhi unit president Saurabh Bhardwaj, during a protest march toward India Gate. The demonstration was organized to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
"Thrown Like A Football": Bhardwaj Alleges Police Brutality
The detention comes just days after Bhardwaj was held at Jantar Mantar during an opposition campaign against the CEC. Speaking to reporters from inside a police bus, a visibly agitated Bhardwaj accused officers of physical manhandling.
"They are picking me up and throwing me around like I am a football," Bhardwaj stated, condemning the conduct of the personnel. He questioned the treatment of citizens, noting that if politicians and journalists are treated with such rudeness, the general public must face even worse. He concluded his outburst by calling for more people to join the movement at India Gate to make their voices heard.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal weighed in on the development via social media, reacting sharply to the crackdown. "This is absolutely shocking. Modi ji has left even Hitler behind," Kejriwal posted on X.
Allegations of Sexual Assault Spark Further Unrest
The tension in the city escalated further as protests broke out outside the Parliament Street Police Station. This secondary demonstration followed serious allegations made by a woman journalist, who accused Delhi Police personnel of molestation and sexual assault during the previous day's protest against Kumar.
Saurav Das, Chief Spokesperson for the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), led the protest alongside legal team lead Ratna Singh and the complainant. Das criticized the police for their lack of cooperation and their refusal to meet with the protesters.
Demands for FIR and Allegations of Shielding Officers
The protesters expressed frustration over the police's refusal to register a First Information Report (FIR). Das highlighted that under Supreme Court guidelines, the police are duty-bound to lodge an FIR when a serious offense is reported by a woman.
- Alleged Protection: Das alleged that the Delhi Police are actively "shielding and protecting" ACP Vivek Bhagat.
- Lack of Cooperation: Protesters claimed they had been waiting for a response from the station for an extended period.
- Systemic Brutality: Das accused the force of behaving with brutality toward the country's youth during protests.
"The victim is demanding the registration of an FIR. There is a very clear procedure... the Delhi Police is not cooperating with the victim at all," Das told the gathered crowd.
Police Response: Case Transferred to Crime Branch
In response to the growing controversy, the Delhi Police issued a statement regarding the allegations of sexual harassment. The department confirmed that complaints made by three female journalists regarding incidents during the October 3 protest have been officially transferred.
In a post on X, the Delhi Police stated that the New Delhi District received the complaints and has handed them over to the Crime Branch to ensure a "fair and impartial enquiry."