Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday criticised the Delhi police for their handling of clashes at Delhi University’s Ramjas college earlier this week and alleged that the force has become an “agent for Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and BJP goons”.
“I strongly condemn the manner in which the Delhi police have become an agent of the ABVP and the BJP. It is the duty of the police to protect the people of Delhi and not allow the ABVP and the BJP to engage in goondaism (sic),” he told reporters at a press briefing.
Holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for the “manner in which the Delhi police were allowed to behave”, Mr. Kejriwal said: “I hope the PM will perform his duty in an impartial way and not work like a BJP worker. Mr. Modi is not the PM of the BJP only but of all people, including me, and he should perform his duty,” Mr. Kejriwal said, adding that the Delhi police should be held accountable for the February 22 violence.
On Wednesday, Ramjas College witnessed clashes between members of the Left-affiliated AISA and the RSS-backed ABVP. The genesis of the clash was an invite to JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid to address a seminar on ‘Culture of Protests’, which was withdrawn by the college authorities following opposition by the ABVP. The Delhi police have acknowledged “unprofessional” conduct on the part of some of its personnel during the clash and suspended three policemen.
