No change in govt stand: Shinde on Kejriwal’s demand

'Action will be taken only after receiving the report'

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Tuesday said there is no change in the government’s stand on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s demand. File Photo

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Tuesday said there is no change in the government’s stand on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s demand for suspension of policemen for alleged dereliction of duty, saying action will be taken only after receiving the inquiry report.

“My stand remains the same. No change in the stand. Action will be taken only after receiving the report,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

He was replying to a question whether the Home Ministry is contemplating suspension of those policemen against whom Mr. Kejriwal and his ministerial colleagues are demanding action for alleged dereliction of duty relating to three incidents.

Asked whether the Home Ministry was planning to forcibly evict the protesters from near Rail Bhavan, which is adjacent to the Republic Day celebrations area, Mr. Shinde indicated that there was no such plan. “Let them do whatever they want to do,” he said.

On whether the protests would give a bad name to the country as the national capital is preparing for Republic Day, he said, “The Chief Minister should think over it”.

Mr. Kejriwal, whose dharna entered second day on Tuesday, has ruled out negotiations to end the stand off with the Centre and

>threatened to flood Rajpath with lakhs of supporters that can disrupt Republic Day celebrations.

The Delhi CM is accompanied by his six cabinet colleagues and supporters at the protest site.