Alleging inaction by the police, a delegation of Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Friday met Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to demand an FIR against Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari in connection with violence during the inauguration of Signature Bridge on November 4.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP N.D. Gupta, party leader Raghav Chadha and MLA Sanjeev Jha met Mr. Patnaik. Mr. Gupta handed over a written complaint seeking an FIR.
In his complaint, Mr. Gupta said he was present at the dais when Mr. Tiwari, who is the North-East Delhi MP, and BJP supporters were “clashing” with the police and trying to break the cordon. He alleged that as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was speaking, Mr. Tiwari tried to rush on to the stage, while his supporters were throwing bottles.
Mr. Gupta also said that Mr. Tiwari and his supporters had a “pre-planned conspiracy” for “committing violence and assaulting” the Delhi Chief Minister and his Cabinet who were present. Mr. Gupta said it was shocking that the police personnel at the site “stood there as mute spectators” while the ruckus unfolded.
After the incident, videos of Mr. Tiwari engaged in a scuffle with police officers were shared on the social media. When he was trying to get on to the stage,
Mr. Tiwari said he was pushed and threatened by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan.
The police had registered an FIR based on Mr. Tiwari’s complaint against Mr. Khan, as well as one FIR each on the complaints by BJP and AAP workers against each other.
“In my view, the police was duty-bound to register an FIR against [Mr.] Tiwari and other hoodlums who committed this serious cognisable offence against police officers on duty. Unfortunately, that has not happened so far for reasons best known to those officers who were on duty that day,” Mr. Gupta wrote.