Support pours in for AAP protest against LG
NEW DELHI: Back on the streets once again, leaders of Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday showed solidarity and support to its national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is on a protest inside the Lieutenant Governor's house with three of his Cabinet ministers.
The protesting leaders also sought an appointment with President Ram Nath Kovind to discuss the ongoing tussle with the central government. AAP will urge him to interfere and to instruct the LG to solve the matter.
Over 1,000 people gathered near the CM's residence sporting white caps on a dust-covered, sultry day. AAP also got support from political leader across the spectrum, including former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, who quit BJP earlier this year.
Addressing the gathering, Sinha expressed solidarity with Kejriwal and AAP in their "struggle". "If former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were here, he would have directed the Home Minister to find a solution to the crisis. But the current central dispensation was sleeping", Sinha said, adding that the entire country was concerned with the situation in Delhi.
"It would be better for the country if a solution is found at the earliest," Sinha added.
The AAP-led Delhi government's demands to the LG include a direction to IAS officers to end their "strike" and punitive action against those who have struck work for "four months".
At the protest march, party leaders and workers raised slogans against the LG, and raised slogans like "LG sahab, Delhi chhodo (LG sir, quit Delhi)".
Rajya Sabha MP and senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that if the IAS officers give assurance in writing to end their strike and resume work, AAP will appeal Kejriwal and his colleagues to end their sit-in at the LG office.
He added that the party would take out a candlelight march on Thursday, and if the matter was not sorted by Sunday, its leaders and workers would stage a dharna outside the Prime Minister's Office.
Even RJD and all the Left parties offered support to AAP. Meanwhile, in a tweet, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "Elected CM must get due respect. May I appeal to the Govt of India and @LtGovDelhi to resolve the problem immediately so that people do not suffer"
