AAP minister, workers march towards HM residence; detained

Water and Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam was detained by the police on Thursday for moving towards the residence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with some of his party workers, protesting against the alleged castiest remarks by Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash. Eight others, including five MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), were also detained, police said.

Senior police officers said it was around 12 in the afternoon when a group of MLAs and workers of the AAP got together and planned to gherao and protest outside the residence of Rajnath Singh at Akbar Road. "As the area is under prohibitory orders of 144 CrPC, 89 persons were detained under DP Act (14 females and 75 males)," the officer said.

DCP Madhur Verma said, "Other MLAs who were detained were Girish Saini (Madipur), Fateh Singh ( Gokulpuri), Anil Vajpayee (Gandhi Nagar), Rakhi Bidlan (Mongolpuri) and Ajay Dutt (Ambedkar Nagar). Apart from this, six counsellors of AAP were also among the detained. A total of 89 people were detained and all of them were later released."

On Tuesday, the Chief Secretary had alleged assault by AAP MLAs, Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal, at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office. After an FIR was registered against the duo, they were sent to judicial custody.