Sealing drive: AAP protests, says police lathicharged leaders

Scores of protesters led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) who took to roads on Monday to protest against the sealing drive, were contained at the Patel Chowk intersection and later detained by the Delhi Police. Protesters, including women, alleged that the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them. However, the police denied any such action.

The protest continued for about two hours as the protesters started gathering at the Patel Chowk Metro Station from 10 am. Protesters had plans to march from the Metro station to Parliament, which witnessed its first day of budget session on Monday.

AAP's media manager, Kaushal Jha told DNA that whatever the Centre is doing is not fair. "The central government is forcing us to starve. We gathered here to protest against the sealing and the FDI but the police lathicharged on us. Women were also brutally thrashed while being detained by the police," Jha said. "At least the government should give a prior notice for making payments of conversion charges and also adequate time to pay," he said.

Adding to this, Ajit Jha, counsellor from Rithala MCD ward number 28, who was also part of the protest, said, "To protest, traders will certainly come on roads. Traders are totally frustrated which is but obvious. If it continues, then customers will also get affected. We were yet to overcome the side effects of the GST and demonetization, and here sealing and FDI have now started to haunt us," Jha added. He also asked that PM Modi should tell the traders where should they go?

A senior police officer said, "Since the protesters tried to march to Parliament, on a day when the session was going on, they were detained. However, allegations of lathicharge or use of violence against them are baseless."

AAP MLA from Greater Kailash and spokesperson, Saurabh Bharadwaj took to social media and tweeted, "MLAs & MCD councillors were protesting peacefully against sealing by MCD, Delhi Police started unprovoked lathicharge. Men of Delhi Police beat up female volunteers of AAP."

Bharadwaj also tweeted, "Delhi Police mercilessly beat up Ashutosh at protest march against sealing of markets in Delhi. He was forced into Parliamentary Street police station using rope around group of AAP leaders and volunteers."

POLICE SPEAK

• DCP New Delhi, BK Singh said, “When police tried to reason with protestors, some of them became violent and pushed the cops. Legal action is being taken against violators of law.”