No permission to AAP protest, says Delhi Police; Security beefed up at PM residence

Delhi Police said on Tuesday that it has not given permission to AAP to hold any protest, reports ANI. However, entry/exit at Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station, Gate no 3 of Patel Chowk Metro Station, and Gate no 5 of Central Secretariat Metro Station will remain closed.

Security at the Prime Minister’s residence has been beefed up by the Delhi Police following the AAP’s announcement of a protest on Tuesday to “gherao” the premises in response to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest.

“Due to security reasons, entry/exit at Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station, Gate no 3 of Patel Chowk Metro Station and Gate no 5 of Central Secretariat Metro station will remain closed till further notice,” Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a post on X.

“Large number of security personnel, including paramilitary forces, were seen deployed at Patel Chowk after a call was given by AAP to gather here before the march,” said a senior Delhi Police official.

The Delhi Traffic Police have advised commuters to avoid routes, including Kemal Ataturk Marg, Safdarjung Road, Akbar Road and Teen Murti Marg.

“Commuters are requested to cooperate by avoiding/bypassing these roads, if possible, and make maximum use of public transport,” said the official. “People, who are going towards ISBT/Railway Stations/Indira Gandhi Airport, are advised to carefully plan their travel with sufficient time at hand,” he added.

“General public and motorists are advised to keep patience, observe traffic rules and road discipline and follow directions of traffic personnel deployed at all intersections,” the official said.

India summons German diplomat over remarks on Delhi CM Kejriwal’s arrest

India on Saturday summoned a senior diplomat from the German Embassy and lodged a strong protest over comments on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Later, the Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy, George Enzweiler, was seen leaving the Ministry of External Affairs office in the capital.

India called the comments “blatant interference” in India’s internal matters after the German foreign office said on Friday that it has “taken note” of Kejriwal’s arrest and expects that “standards regarding the independence of the judiciary and basic democratic principles” will apply.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary. India is a vibrant and robust democrary with rule of law. As in all legal cases in the country, and elsewhere in the democratic world, law will take its own course in the instant matter. Biased assumptions made on this account are most unwarranted.”

In response to how the German government assessed Kejriwal’s arrest weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, Sebastian Fischer, a spokesperson for Germany’s foreign ministry, said, “We have taken note of the case. India is a democratic country. We assume and expect that the standards relating to the independence of the judiciary and fundamental democratic principles will also apply in this case.”

“Like anyone facing accusations, Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and impartial trial, this includes he can make use of all available legal avenues without restrictions. The presumption of innocence is a central element of the rule of law and must apply to him [sic],” the statement said.

The Enforcement Directorate termed the Aam Aadmi Party chief the kingpin of the alleged excise scam in collusion with other ministers of the Delhi government. It claimed that Kejriwal was involved in the conspiracy of formulation of the Excise Policy 2021-22 to favour certain persons.

A special court on Friday sent Kejriwal to six days of ED custody, till March 28.