Delhi Police file three cases over brawl between BJP and AAP workers at bridge inauguration
Aam Aadmi Party legislator Amanatullah Khan was booked for ‘pushing’ Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari.
The Delhi Police on Tuesday filed three cases in connection with the clashes between workers of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and those of the Bharatiya Janata Party at the inauguration of the Signature Bridge on Sunday, PTI reported.
One of the cases was filed against Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan, based on a complaint by Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari. The other two cases were based on complaints by Tiwari’s colleague BN Jha and an unnamed Aam Aadmi Party worker, police said.
A video tweeted by ANI on Sunday showed Khan pushing Tiwari at the function. In his complaint, Tiwari alleged Khan had also threatened to shoot him.
Khan, however, told ANI he had not “pushed” Tiwari but only tried to stop him from getting onto the stage. “It was obvious from his actions that if he had succeeded in climbing onto the stage he would have misbehaved or attacked CM and deputy CM,” Khan said, referring to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia.
The MLA claimed Tiwari and his supporters had come to the inauguration despite not being invited. “They tore our posters and hoardings, showed black flags and attacked our workers,” he added. “When Arvind ji arrived, they came near the stage but police didn’t stop them.”
Tiwari, meanwhile, said Khan’s bail should be cancelled immediately. Khan is accused of assaulting Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash at Kejriwal’s home in February. He is out on bail.
The brawl at Sunday’s function came after Tiwari expressed unhappiness over not being invited despite being a Member of Parliament from the area. Both the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP blamed each other for instigating the altercation.
The police have transferred the three cases to the Crime Branch for investigation.
On Tuesday, Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain had asked Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Manoj Parida to file a police complaint against Tiwari for allegedly indulging in violence. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh accused the Delhi Police of “inaction” in dealing with the ruckus and sought a First Information Report against Tiwari.