Hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members on Monday took the national capital by storm marching towards Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s residence over the hike in water and power tariff. However, they were pushed back by police. Most of the protesters were detained and later released.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, whose indefinite fast in Delhi paved the way for another movement, is looking more confident with yesterday’s mass protest. It was the perfect period for the party members to take on Sheila Dikhshit-led government on the tariff rise of basic commodities like water and power ahead of the polls.
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Protesters tried to meet the CM over the ‘bijli-paani’ issue, however, faced detention. AAP alleged that the hike in fares is the result of the state government’s collusion with private companies.
Delhi police stopped 350 members of AAP, who were heading for central Delhi to meet Sheila, at Bhairon Marg. Later, 50 protesters were given permission to advance. However, the leaders wished to move with 272 supporters. Consequently, the permission to visit CM’s residence was withdrawn and they were detained.
AAP claimed to have received the support of more than one lakh citizens, who signed the letters not to pay the increased electricity and water bills. Kejriwal is still on hunger strike and hopeful to unite people through his civil disobedience movement against corruption.