Rain gods played havoc just as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal embraced the smear hurled at him and said, “Yes I am an anarchist.” The inclement weather in view of intermittent rain and clouding could deter the crowds from joining Arvind Kejriwal and his colleagues on the streets in the game of nerves between the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) government and the Centre.
The Chief Minister began his dharna on Monday after the deadline for the Centre to suspend five policemen fell on deaf ears. He insisted the common people and other police officials to join him as he began squatting outside the Rail Bhavan.
The weather does not seem to be in terms with this protest, just as Union Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Congress party, who might reconsider the support extended to the Aam Aadmi Party. “Needless and deliberate confrontation” is not being entertained by other political parties either. Moreover, cold day conditions on the 21st and 22nd may hold back ones who believe in the capability of Kejriwal. Closing of four metro stations in central Delhi on Tuesday morning, might add to the woes of the people.
In view of persistent rain in the national capital, minimum temperatures have risen with Safdarjung recording 10.2°C, today morning. The maximum temperature recorded on Monday was 22.3°C but today the mercury may come down below 16°C. Rain in Delhi will continue in spells for the next two days with increased intensity tomorrow thus reducing masses further. The rain belt will shift and cover Punjab, Haryana, west Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh as well.
The Chief Minister wants to spread “unrest in the homes of Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and the police commissioner," as he said to the press, but it seems like a difficult feat without much support from the people due to continuous rain.
The Kejriwal’s demand for Delhi Police to come under the purview of the state government in Delhi is not new. The situation takes us back to 16th December, 2012 - the brawl between his predecessor Sheila Dikshit’s and the then Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar. When the Commissioner refused to apologise and resign for this brutality towards the mob, all the former Chief Minister could do is not take responsibility for the situation and lathicharge. For now, all one can do is wait and watch if the Delhiites brace rainy weather and join Kejriwal’s party to get the Centre around to their point of view.
picture courtesy- coastaldigest.com
