Ahead of the Aam Aadmi Party's scheduled protest at the Prime Minister's residence on Sunday evening, the party's leaders alleged that the police were telling workers not to join the march, while the Delhi Police said no permission had been sought for the protest.
The AAP had announced on Wednesday that its leaders, including MPs, MLAs, councillors, and workers would stage a protest march to the Prime Minister's Office in support of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's demand that Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal put an end to the "strike" by State government officers. Mr. Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai have been staging a dharna inside Raj Niwas since Monday seeking the same.
Mr. Rai said in a tweet on Sunday morning that he had received information from different parts of Delhi that the police was trying to stop workers from reaching the march, which would start from Mandi House at 4 p.m. Mr. Kejriwal termed the police's alleged actions "shocking".
The police, on the other hand, said the party did not have permission for the march.
"The call given by @AamAadmiParty to march towards PM residence or office is without any permission. No permission has been applied for. As such areas of New Delhi district are under prohibitory orders. (sic)," the Delhi Police said on Twitter.
In addition, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said in a statement that it had stopped entry and exit at Lok Kalyan Marg station, which is the closest to the PMO, from 12 noon on the advise of the police. The station would remain closed till further directions, it said.
It later announced that four more stations - Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhavan and Janpath - will remain closed on Sunday from 2 p.m onwards till further directions. However, the interchange between Yellow and Violet Lines at Central Secretariat will function as usual.
