Reacting to the arrest of Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar in the 'fake degree' row, the Aam Aadmi Party lashed out at the Centre for creating an emergency-like situation under their "dictatorial" regime.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia addressed a press meet after Tomar was arrested on charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery early on Tuesday. At the meet, he accused the Narendra Modi-led government of trying to "create an emergency-like situation in Delhi through dictatorship".
"Attempts are being made to create an emergency like situation in Delhi through dictatorship as we have come down hard on those involved in corruption," Sisodia said, according to PTI.
Even AAP leader and journalist Ashutosh said that it is evident from the actions of the Modi administration that they are trying to impose dictatorship in India. He further accused the Centre of "indulging into vendetta politics", apparently referring to the ongoing power tussle between AAP and Lieutenant Governor.
Sarkar agar iss tarah ki harkat kar sakti hai, toh saaf hai ki Narendra Modi ko desh ke andar loktantra nahi, taanashaahi chahiye: Ashutosh
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 9, 2015
The AAP questioned the way the Delhi Police arrested Tomar. They said that Tomar was treated like a fugitive as about 40 policemen came to his office early in the morning and took him along with them.
"The police told Tomar they had come to see some documents... They asked him to accompany them to his house. On the way they told his driver to get off and took charge of his vehicle and told him he was being detained... They told Tomar that he could ask someone to bring the documents to the police station..." Sisodia said, according to IANS.
"What is going on?.. Was he (Tomar) running away? Did he explode bombs in Delhi? There is an allegation (against him). The matter is in the court. What was the need to arrest him?" Sisodia asked.
He further claimed that the move was aimed at appointing Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Meena as the chief of Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). Another turf war began between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung over the appointment of Meena as the chief of ACB.
Kejriwal said that Jung appointed Meena as the Additional Commissioner of Police at ACB without consulting him. However, the matter turned in favour of AAP as the Delhi Vigilance Director later on Tuesday asked Meena to not join ACB as its new chief because the position is already occupied.
"There has been illegal attempts to create the post of a new chief of the Anti-Corruption Branch by creating an emergency like situation. They are creating such a situation in order to bring the ACB under their jurisdiction. This is unconstitutional," Sisodia said.
On Tomar's fake law degree allegations, Sisodia said that the affidavit, issued by Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, cleary states that he passed his law course.
"This is an attempt to teach AAP a lesson. We would not spare anyone who will come in the way of our fight against corruption. His college affidavit clearly states that he has passed his law degree," he said.
Even the Congress took a jibe at Tomar's arrest and demanded Kejriwal and the Law Minister's resignation.
