Manoj Tiwari clashes with Police, AAP supporters; CM terms it 'unprecedented'
NEW DELHI: High drama was witnessed at the inauguration of the Signature Bridge in the national capital after Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, his supporters and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers got into a scuffle at the event in the presence of police on Sunday. CM Arvind Kejriwal termed the incident as "unprecedented".
"Unprecedented. Chaos by BJP at Signature Bridge inauguration site. Its a Del govt prog. Police mute spectator. Can LG, being head of Del police, ensure peace and order at Signature bridge inauguration site?, Kejriwal said in a Tweet. The BJP leader had arrived at the inauguration event even though the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi had reportedly not extended an invitation to him.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Tiwari justified his decision to attend the event, saying, "In my constituency (North East Delhi), I re-started construction of the bridge after it was stalled for many years and now Arvind Kejriwal is organising an inauguration ceremony."
Following the completion of the iconic bridge, the BJP and AAP leaders have been involved in a bitter squabble to take credit for the construction of the bridge.
A video showed that police personnel intervened to break the brawl even as others tried to stop the two clashing groups.
Slamming the AAP workers for "misbehaving" with him, Tiwari insisted that he had been invited to the inauguration event and that he was present at the function to welcome Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
He said, "I was invited to the inauguration event. I am MP from here. So what's the problem? Am I a criminal? Why has the police surrounded me? I'm here to welcome Arvind Kejriwal. AAP and police have misbehaved with me."
Tiwari claimed that he had been invited yesterday by Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and said that that BJP had played a crucial role in the construction of the bridge.
After the ruckus, Tiwari claimed that he had identified the policemen who had pushed and shoved him during the scuffle.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Ravindra Yadav stated that the police personnel on duty performed their task with utmost restraint and diligence. The main function was held smoothly without any disturbance. Though there was slogan shouting but police segregated the groups and did not allow any clash or violence to take place. "The situation was handled very professionally by Delhi Police and not allowed it to take an ugly turn," said the Joint CP.
