Even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal continues his tirade demanding action against policemen who refused to carry out a raid on an alleged drug and prostitution ring on a Delhi minister's directive last week, the political class seems to be united in slamming his confrontationist track.
Here’s how they view the AAP dharna
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has said that there is no change in the government's stand on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's demand for suspension of policemen for alleged dereliction of duty, saying action will be taken only after receiving the inquiry report.
"My stand remains the same. No change in the stand. Action will be taken only after receiving the report," he said.
Asked whether the Home Ministry was planning to forcibly evict the protesters from near Rail Bhavan, which is adjacent to the Republic Day celebrations area, Shinde indicated that there was no such plan.
"Let them do whatever they want to do," he said.
On whether the protests would give a bad name to the country as the national capital is preparing for Republic Day, he said, "The Chief Minister should think over it".
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'Kejriwal is talking like Naxals'
The Bharatiya Janata Party has slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for speaking the language of Maoists and cluelessly running the government.
"This is a joint operation of AAP and Congress which has led to an anarchic situation in Delhi. Both have reasons for doing this," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
"Kejriwal has launched this agitation to save the indicted ministers. Last year he ran away from Anna Hazare's agitation at Jantar Mantar saying nothing will be achieved by it and we should come to power. Now that he is in power he is saying let us take to the streets. This is just a diversionary tactic," Javadekar said.
Congress, on the other hand, is aware that it cannot face BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and needs AAP as "crutches".
"AAP is engaging in this drama as it is looking for an excuse to get out of power," Javadekar said.
"Today Kejriwal has said that Republic Day celebration is nothing but a procession of floats. This is an insult to the nation, to the people and to the defence forces. Country got its Constitution on this day and such language is a challenge to the Constitution as well. Kejriwal is talking like Naxals do in tribal areas."
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'The public who have given them a chance won't take long in changing their minds'
Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari, who was forced to walk to his office on Monday following the dharna, criticised Delhi chief minister's protest demanding suspension of Delhi Police personnel, and said that people would evaluate the Aam Aadmi Party based on the promises they have fulfilled, and not on the number of protests held.
"If they try to run from their responsibilities, the public who have given them a chance won't take long in changing their minds," he said.
"We (Congress) extended our support so that the people of Delhi do not face re-elections. They accepted our support and now they must fulfill their promises. People of Delhi will not evaluate them based on the number of protests held by them, but they will evaluate based on the promises the party has made, and to what extent have then been fulfilled," he added.
Sharply reacting to Kejriwal's remarks on Republic Day by calling it a "procession of floats," Tewari asked whether the responsibility of Republic Day lies solely on the Centre.
"Is the responsibility of January 26 only on the Indian government? Isn't it the responsibility of the people who took oath of the Constitution? Do they have faith in the Indian constitution?" he questioned.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that the actions taken by Kejriwal are dangerous for democracy.
"It is for the first time that the CM, who has been given the responsibility of the state, is staging a protest. He is shifting from the primary focus that is delivering their promises, and governance. Their actions are dangerous for the democracy, and very unhealthy for the nation," Pilot said.
"They should understand that the time for marching, protesting and shouting slogans is gone. It is the time to deliver. The public has a lot of expectations from the AAP, looking at which the Congress had supported them," he said, adding, "The kind of actions they are taking is very unfortunate."
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