Allegations have been made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers that they were manhandled by BJP members when they demonstrated outside the party’s office in protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The demonstration took place outside the BJP office at Muralidhar Sen Lane, where AAP workers raised slogans against the BJP-led Centre for the arrest of the AAP chief in connection with a money laundering case related to an excise policy.
During the protest, AAP workers shouted slogans while BJP activists came out of the party office and began shouting counter-slogans. Tensions rose, leading to a scuffle between the two groups. Police officers present at the scene intervened to restore order.
Accusations were made by AAP workers that some of the women members were manhandled by BJP activists. AAP lodged a complaint at the Jorasanko police station regarding the incident. An AAP worker stated, “The BJP workers attacked us and struck us with sticks. Our female members were also manhandled.”
Furthermore, 30 AAP workers were detained by the police for participating in the protest. The BJP, however, claimed that AAP supporters had verbally abused senior leaders. A BJP worker alleged, “The individuals were not AAP workers but TMC members pretending to be AAP activists who had come to protest.”
Arnab Maitra, AAP’s chief spokesperson in West Bengal, commented, “The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal is an assault on democracy. The BJP is attempting to manipulate the Lok Sabha elections by arresting one of the most popular opposition leaders in the country.”