Opposition parties across nation back protest by Kejriwal, Delhi ministers

NEW DELHI: The sit-in protest by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his three Cabinet colleagues at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office entered the fifth day on Friday, despite no response from the Centre over fulfilling the ministers' demands.

However, the dharna has found support from almost all Opposition parties, who criticised the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre for its authoritarian attitude.

From former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan, from dissident BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha to major Leftist parties like CPI and CPI(M), the list of supporters for Kejriwal's protest is increasing.

Even Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed solidarity with the elected Delhi government, who on Friday tweeted, "The trend of using the Governor's Office for Political benefits of the ruling party at the centre, goes against the spirit of the Constitution. We express our solidarity with the Government of Delhi elected by people."

The protest has already been backed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and former BJP MP Yashwant Sinha.

In his tweet criticising the BJP leaders protesting at Delhi Secretariat, Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said that the "situation worse than the killing of the democracy".

"This is an arrogance of the power. Those who are capturing the democracy with their power today will also capture the houses of the people. The people are angry as well as scared," Yadav said.

Kamal Hassan, president of Makkal Needhi Maiam, equated the situation in Delhi and Pondicherry. "Interference in the functioning of an elected government is unacceptable in a democracy. In fact what is happening in Delhi and in TN/Pondicherry are not too different. It is frustrating for people who want a change for the better. @ArvindKejriwal," he had tweeted on Thursday.

Despite the widespread support, Congress, the largest Opposition party in the Parliament, have not backed the AAP government. However, on Friday, the Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said his party does not want the elected government of the Capital to be removed and will oppose any move for President's Rule.