Hundreds of AAP supporters marched towards LG’s house on Wednesday. (AAP Twitter)
A large number of AAP leaders and workers protested outside LG’s house on Wednesday, even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues continued with their sit-in at Anil Baijal’s office for the third straight day. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also began an indefinite hunger strike today. Earlier, on Tuesday, Health Minister Satyendar Jain had launched an indefinite hunger strike.
Kejriwal, along with Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai have been staging a sit-in at the LG’s office since Monday to protest against agitating IAS officials and to get an approval for the doorstep ration delivery scheme. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also came in support of Delhi Chief Minister today, appealing LG Anil Baijal and Modi government to resolve the issue.
“We are not sitting here for ourselves. We are sitting here for the people of Delhi, for schools, water, mohalla clinics, so that the people of Delhi get the facilities,” Kejriwal said in a video message from LG’s office.
In photos | Kejriwal’s sit-in protest at Lieutenant Governor’s office has now entered its third day
Meanwhile, the BJP and Congress slammed Kejriwal, terming his ‘dharna’ at the L-G office a “mockery of democracy” and a “drama”. Raising the water shortage issue in the city, BJP’s Delhi unit also staged a protest at Kejriwal’s residence today.
Satyender Jain, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Shisodia and Gopal Rai at LG House, on protest on June 11, 2018. Express photo.
"I had an opportunity to work with Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I have no regrets about not having a chance to work with small-time leaders," he said, drawing loud cheers from the audience.
He accused Home Minister Rajnath Singh of not taking any initiative to resolve the impasse. The Centre is sleeping. There are no reports to show that Rajnath Singh is taking it seriously. Why hasn't your voice reached the PMO and the Home Ministry?"
Sinha said he tried to meet Kejriwal at the LG office but the police turned down his request.
Sinha expressed solidarity with Kejriwal saying, "If Atal Bihari Vajpayee were there, he would have directed the home minister to talk to the Delhi chief minister to figure out a way." He, has served as a cabinet minister under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said he had no regrets about not working with the current BJP dispensation.
Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha said a prime minister like Atal Bihari Vajpayee would have held talks with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to end the ongoing impasse between the AAP government and the bureaucracy. Sinha, who joined AAP leaders as they marched to the Lt Governor's office over IAS officers "strike", said he had no regrets about not working with "small-time leaders" (of the BJP).
Even as the sit-in by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and three ministers entered its third day, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today began an indefinite strike and the AAP vowed to continue its struggle after its leaders and MLAs marched to the L-G office.
Delhi Police has stopped the #March4Democracy on the way to LG's house. The distance between Delhi CM's residence and LG's House is 1.5 to 2 km. (AAP Twitter)
More from Cities
Congress leader and former Delhi CM ShSheilaixit today said that Arvind Kejriwal is not at all conscious of his constitutional duties due to which people of Delhi are suffering. She lambasted the AAP leader for his sit-in protest inside the Raj Niwas that entered its third day today. Dikshit, a three-time Delhi Chief Minister, said it was "completely unacceptable" that head of the government was sitting on a "dharna" at the Lt Governor's house when the city was reeling under severe water crisis and other problems, reports PTI.
Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel today supported the demands of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers staging a sit-in at the L-G office since Monday evening, as he jumped into the ring to attack Lt Governor Anil Baijal over IAS officers' "strike".
Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari and party workers today raised slogans against the AAP government outside CM Kejriwal's office. (PTI Photo)
Mimicking the protest by AAP party at LG's office, BJP leaders today sat on a dharna at Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's office against the "non-performance" of his government, reports PTI. Rebel AAP legislator Kapil Mishra also staged a protest outside the CM's office.
"All this is being willingly done under LG's patronage and on Modi Ji's instructions. Since 2014 -- when the Modi government came to power -- the post of Governors and Lieutenant Governors are being misused, wherever there is opposition in power. But we will not remain silent," says Sanjay Singh.