Kejriwal attacked with chilli powder outside office

New Delhi: A man threw chilli powder at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Secretariat on Tuesday, an attack the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) described as "politically motivated".

Even as the man behind the attack - Anil Kumar Sharma was detained, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said his party would not be "cowed down" by these "petty tactics" by the BJP.

Police said 40-year-old Sharma, a resident of Naraina had been detained for questioning.

Officials said Kumar was targeting the bespectacled chief minister's eyes.

Kejriwal's spectacles broke but his eyes seemed to have been spared any damage, they added.

Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of 'khaini', or chewing tobacco, they said. After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, an official recounted.

The attack took place outside the chief minister's chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch.

AAP's national spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who was behind Kejriwal when the incident took place tweeted, "Was right behind CM @ArvindKejriwal at the Secretariat when he was suddenly attacked, on the 3rd floor right outside his office. Shocking lapse of security. Is this Delhi Police's incompetent effort to protect an elected CM?

"While today just the CM's glasses fell to the floor and broke, an unacceptable security lapse nonetheless. Imagine if the attacker were to be wielding a more dangerous weapon. Who were to have prevented a tragedy from occurring?"

Sisodia told reporters that the attack surprisingly took place at a high-security area.

Officials close to Kejriwal accused the Delhi Police of being lax in providing him security and alleged that this was the third attempt to harm him in less than a month. See P3