Has the ice melted? Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal bats for Yogendra Yadav

I strongly condemn the treatment metted out to Yogendraji by Delhi police. They were protesting peacefully. It is their fundamental right.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 11, 2015

Yadav, who had formed the Swaraj Abhiyan outfit with lawyer Prashant Bhushan after the duo’s expulsion from the Aam Aadmi Party for anti-party activities, was detained by the police after they refused to vacate from Jantar Mantar, where there were protesting against the ‘anti-farmer’ policies of the government. The protesters led by Yadav also wanted to install a farmers’ memorial prototype at Race Course near the Prime Minister’s residence. Yadav, tweeted last night that he was manhandled and later arrested by the Delhi police for peacefully protesting at the venue. ‘Why this brutal assault,’ he asked.

I have been beaten up, manhandled, dragged, pushed and arrested at the parliament street police station. pic.twitter.com/kbJgT9rSuh

— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) August 10, 2015

Even though Yadav and Bhushan are anathema for Kejriwal, his larger fight is against the BJP-led Centre, which he claims is trying to create problems and hurdles for the Delhi government he leads. For weeks now, Kejriwal and his government are locked in a bitter power tussle with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, whom Kejriwal has several times called ‘an agent of the BJP.’

Read: Yadav questions police brutality

After the AAP’s landslide victory in Delhi, fissures had erupted within the ranks of the party with several leaders claiming that Yadav and Bhushan had spearheaded a ploy to ensure the party’s defeat. After days of infighting, the party unanimously decided to expel both of them. Both Yadav and Bhushan have alleged that Kejriwal is behind their ouster from the party.