MLAs have been targeted for being Dalit, Muslim, says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that its two MLAs - Prakash Jarwal and Amanatullah Khan - are being targetted because of their caste and religion. The legislators were arrested for allegedly manhandling Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash during a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Monday night.

Addressing the media, senior AAP leader Ashutosh said that both Khan and Jarwal were arrested despite no evidence being produced against them. "Eleven MLAs were present at the chief minister's residence during the meeting and yet only Jarwal, a Dalit MLA and Khan have been arrested. Why?" he asked.

Highlighting the recent incidents of atrocities on Dalits and Muslims, senior party leader Sanjay Singh said, "Several Dalits were thrashed in Una and a Dalit man was brutally killed for sporting a moustache. Then, there are cases like the killing of Pehlu Khan (who was killed by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan, last year)."

Earlier on Tuesday, another AAP MLA from Ambedkar Nagar, Ajay Dutt had filed a police complaint against the Chief Secretary for making "casteist remarks" against him during the meeting. "He said you be within your limits... you have no right to question me. He used abusive language and moved out of the room," Dutt said in his complaint. He also alleged the top bureaucrat of launching verbal attacks against Jarwal.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court dismissed the police's plea for custodial interrogation of both the AAP MLA saying they were ready to cooperate and join the investigation.