AAP, BJP workers fight pitched battle after Kejriwal's detention
Updated
New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI): AAP workers today fought pitched battles with BJP activists outside the saffron party headquarters here hours after former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was detained briefly in Gujarat.
Scores of AAP workers stormed the BJP head office on Ashoka Road in the heart of the capital protesting against Kejriwal's detention in Radhanpur in North Gujarat where he has gone on a four-day visit to "inspect" development that has been claimed by Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
They shouted slogans against Modi saying he was "scared" by Kejriwal's visit and was using the police against him.
Soon both sides were engaged in pelting of stones alleging that the other side started it. Police which reached the spot sought to disperse the crowd by using water canons. Plastic chairs were also hurled from inside the BJP office on the crowds outside.
The scene outside the BJP office looked a veritable battle scene with activists of both sides pelting stones and other missiles at each other. At least five people from either side were injured, police said. An FIR will be filed in the case.
Nalin Kohli, a BJP office bearer, accused AAP leader Ashutosh, a candidate in Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency, of engineering the trouble and demanded his arrest.
But AAP leaders hit back saying it was the BJP activists who provoked violence.
"We cannot change the path of our caravan. What was the need to detain Kejriwal? Modi is scared of Kejriwal. Rahul Gandhi is in Aurangabad but he wasn't stopped. This rally was fixed days in advance," AAP leader Shazia Ilmi, who was among the protesters, said.
"What was the need to fire water cannons and throw stones at us. I was myself standing here. We were only shouting slogans against Modi," she said.
Ashutosh was also critical of the police action. "We have been protesting peacefully. Congress and BJP are hand in gloves. All are scared of AAP."
As he embarked on his four-day tour to verify Modi's claims of providing water, power, education and healthcare to people of Gujarat, Kejriwal was taken to Radhanpur police station in north Gujarat and allowed to go after half an hour.
AAP's state convenor Sukhdev Patel claimed that Kejriwal was detained but police denied it saying they had only "briefed" Kejriwal on the model code of conduct which came into force today with the declaration of poll schedule.
Earlier Report
Kejriwal arrives in Gujarat to verify Modi's development claims
Ahmedabad, Mar 5 (PTI): Arriving in Gujarat for a four-day tour, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal today said he would verify the development claims made by the state Chief Minister and BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
"Gujarat government and the media says there is 'Ramrajya' in this state. (They say) Education has developed, health issues have been resolved, corruption has been finished...So we have come here to see that development in Gujarat," he said after his arrival at the city airport.
Kejriwal is accompanied by other AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. They were welcomed by a large number of AAP members, who were seen carrying brooms (party symbol) and shouting slogans 'Sheila Dikshit hari hai, ab Modi ki bari hai' (Sheila Dikshit has lost, now it's Modi's turn).
Kejriwal is likely to go to Becharaji from the city where Maruti's new facility will be set up.
The former Delhi Chief Minister had earlier said that the contest in this elections is between his party and BJP.
The former Delhi Chief Minister had earlier written a letter to Modi on the Reliance gas issue and asked him to make the election expenses of the BJP public and also the people who fund the party's election campaign. He had also asked Modi whether he would bring down the gas price if he came to power.
Kejriwal may travel to Saurashtra and Kutch in the first three days of the visit. On the fourth day he will address a public meeting in Bapunagar area of the city.
AAP has also announced that Kejriwal will fight elections against Modi if he contests from anywhere outside Gujarat.
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