Updated: 8.20 pm
New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS): At least 30 people, including 19 policemen, were injured Tuesday when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters clashed with the police during a sit-in here. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday evening called off his street protest followed an appeal by Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung.
Over 100 AAP protesters Tuesday forcefully entered Rafi Marg that leads to the protest site after pushing through barricades, resulting in a clash with the police.
Earlier, Kejriwal said he was determined to continue the protest near the Rail Bhavan, where he and his cabinet members were stopped Monday while on their way to the union home ministry to demand that the Delhi Police be brought under their control and action taken against five police officers.
Police tried to stop the advancing AAP volunteers who did not pay heed, resulting in a scuffle.
"At least 11 people were injured in the clash and were taken to hospital while 18 policemen were hurt," a police officer told IANS.
"One of our policeman suffered a broken nose," said the officer.
Meanwhile, an AAP leader said three people, including a woman, have been admitted to a hospital while six others who received minor injuries were discharged.
The AAP supporters had earlier pelted stones at police officials and injuring constable Dinesh Gupta, posted at the Mukherjee Nagar police station, who was hurt near his eye and was rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where his condition was stable.
"They (AAP) are pelting stones intermittently. We will take legal action as required," Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena told IANS.
A journalist, Nagendra Nath Mishra, who tried to enter the protest site was allegedly beaten up by police.
Earlier Report
Kejriwal attacks Shinde, protest enters second day
New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday criticised the union home minister, saying Sushilkumar Shinde does not have the right to decide where he should sit for protest.
"Who is Shinde to tell me where to protest and where not to. I am the chief minister of Delhi and I have the right to decide not Shinde, instead I can decide where Shinde can stay," Kejriwal told reporters outside the Rail Bhavan here Monday.
The protest by Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues entered the second day Tuesday as he demanded control over Delhi Police and suspension of five police officials.
The chief minister, along with his ministers and volunteers, spent the entire night on the road outside the Rail Bhavan raising slogans.
Due to the ongoing protest, four metro stations in the heart of the capital, which were closed Monday, continued to remain shut Tuesday.
"I realise that the closing of the metro stations has caused a lot of trouble for the common man. So, I am telling Shinde to open them and stop causing inconvenience to the people," Kejriwal said.
He said the area has been surrounded with barricades, turning it into a jail. The chief minister also complained about the absence of toilet facility in the area.
"Today in the morning, I myself broke the barricade and my ministers went to the toilets. Shinde has closed the toilets of all the buildings. We are people from India not Pakistan.
"Why is the home minister treating us like this? Where will the women go to use the toilets?, Kejriwal asked.