Kejriwal says Constitution does not stop CM from protesting, attacks media

New Delhi: Defending his two-day dharna in the heart of the capital that drew sharp criticism, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday asserted he did nothing against the Constitution and charged police with clamping prohibitory orders after knowing about his protest plan.

In an address on the eve of the Republic Day, he strongly rebutted criticism against him for staging the dharna and said the Constitution does not prevent the chief minister from participating in any protest for people's cause.

"I read the Constitution but couldn't find anywhere that a chief minister cannot hold a dharna. I staged a sit-in to raise the issue of women's security. The authorities clamped section 144 of CrPC after knowing my plan. It made me think how come chief minister of Delhi became a security threat."

Kejriwal's role in leading the protest while holding constitutional office has come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court which yesterday slammed law enforcing agencies for allowing unlawful assembly of supporters of the chief minister in the heart of national capital.

"What was the need for imposing section 144 of CrPC? Many people told me that we did an unconstitutional thing. I did not go against the Constitution," he said.

He also charged that 'the media was aligned with one party or the other and was doing negative stories on AAP'.

The Delhi CM said, "I don't know why media houses want people to speak against me. They are associated either with one party or another."

Citing an example, he claimed he had got a call from a reporter of a news channel who told him that he had been asked by his boss to do a negative story on AAP that its popularity is going down.

"He went outside and spoke to people, the first 50 of them were not ready to speak against us. All of them said that they were happy with the government. Many reporters are honest, media owners and some political parties are not letting them work. He said it was a compulsion as the boss has asked so he got three-four people to speak against you," claimed Kejriwal.

He argued that 'this is not journalism. This is your country as well. This is wrong'.

Kejriwal and his six ministers had sat in the dharna demanding action against five police officials in three separate cases. He ended his dharna after Lt Governor Najeeb Jung sent two policemen on leave pending inquiry.

"I think if I had taken a bungalow, a big car and huge security paraphernalia and then called a senior police officer and asked him to get me Rs 10 lakh from each police station per month, then everything would have been alright. Everyone would have said what a good CM I am," he said.

Resolving to keep fighting to ensure security of women in the city, he said his government would not "sit silently" on the important issue. "Security of women is highly compromised. It is of utmost importance to us. The government has formed a committee under the Chief Secretary to set up a 'Women Security Force' in the city," he said.

"Last year 1600 women were raped. Did they get their right to life? Ask any woman, any parent. They are afraid and worried whether they would reach home properly or not. Today every woman feels insecure," he said.

Kejriwal said the force will provide security to women and will have retired army personnel, police and home guards as its members.