New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS): The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday questioned the motive behind Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's protest in the capital and alleged that it was being done to divert attention from governance issues.

"He never respected the law or followed it. That is why I am not surprised with the kind of things he is doing," Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said.

"But first I just want to ask him that where did the money that was collected in the IAC movement go? The people have elected them, and they are watching everything," he said.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said: "They made promises to the people and now when it comes to walking the talk they are being escapist and trying every gimmickry to wriggle out of the situation that they themselves have got into."

"People of this country need to ask the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) if they believe in the idea of India as a republic? Because if they believe in this idea, one would not resort to the kind of anarchy that they have resorted to right now," he added.

Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel said: "Have you before this ever seen them talking against the Delhi police. This is an attempt to shift focus from their non-performance".

Accusing the AAP and the Congress of being "hand in glove", he asked as to why the Congress was supporting them.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar said: "AAP wants to divert attention from its inaction against the corrupt Shiela Dikshit government and save its own indicted minister."

Kejriwal is demanding that the Delhi Government be given charge of the city's police force which currently reports to the central government via the home ministry.

His demand comes after last week's gang-rape of a Danish tourist, and a controversial midnight raid by Law Minister Somnath Bharti in Delhi's Khirki Extension area.