The much-awaited inaugural of the Signature Bridge in the Capital on Sunday evening welcomed chaos after Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, accompanied by his party workers, allegedly entered into a scuffle with Aam Aadmi Party workers and the police.
Expressing displeasure over not being invited to the inaugural event, Mr. Tiwari, also the local MP, had tweeted that he would be present at the function to welcome Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
At the event, Mr. Tiwari alleged that police stopped him from entering the venue. AAP MLA Amantullah Khan used abusive language and pushed me, he added.
“I am not only the MP but was invited to the event by Manish Sisodia [Deputy Chief Minister]. I wanted to go near the bridge to receive Mr. Kejriwal but people from the AAP manhandled me as the police watched mutely. Is this the way the police is supposed to operate? This clearly shows that the local police is hand in glove with the AAP,” Mr. Tiwari alleged.
Reacting to the incident, Mr. Kejriwal tweeted: “Unprecedented. Chaos by BJP at Signature Bridge inauguration site. Its a Del govt prog. Police mute spectator. Can LG, being head of Del police, ensure peace and order at Signature bridge inauguration site [sic]?”
Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh hit back at Mr. Tiwari’s, arguing that the BJP did not invite Mr. Kejriwal for the inauguration of Metro rail lines to Noida, Bahadurgarh, Faridabad and for the Skywalk at the ITO, which was built by Delhi’s Public Works Department.
Mr. Kejriwal, in his inaugural speech, said: “An engineering marvel, the structure is twice the height of Qutab Minar. It will a milestone development in the infrastructural growth of the Capital,” he said. Taking a jibe at the Modi government for building the world’s tallest statue, he said people need to decide what the country needs more — world-class bridges or world’s tallest statue, he added.
The man responsible for the completion of the bridge is Mr. Sisodia, said the Chief Minister.
War of credit
Delhi Congress chief said the AAP was only giving final shape to several of the projects started during the time of Congress. “In 15 years, we build almost one hospital a year and started several new schools. The AAP, in its four years, has only completed projects started by the Congress and is taking credit for it...,” Mr. Maken said.
Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) said: “Our staff performed their task with diligence. Though there was slogan shouting, police segregated the groups and did not allow any violence...”
