NEW DELHI: Punjab Police personnel assigned for the security of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal have been withdrawn, Punjab’s director general of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav confirmed on Thursday. Kejriwal continues to retain Z-Plus security cover.
DGP Yadav, announcing the decision, said, “From time to time, we receive reports of threats to chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, and we share these with the concerned agencies. Following directions from the Delhi Police and the Election Commission today, we withdrew the Punjab Police component from Kejriwal’s security detail.”
He added, “We have expressed our concerns to them and will remain in close contact. Our inputs will continue to be shared with the Delhi Police.”
This comes hours after Kejriwal alleged attack on him by ‘opposition’s men’.
“Today in Hari Nagar, the police allowed the opposition candidate’s men to enter my public meeting and then attacked my car. All this is happening on the orders of Amit Shah. Amit Shah has made the Delhi Police the personal army of the BJP,” Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal added, “Big questions are being raised on the Election Commission that the national president of a national party and its leaders are being constantly attacked and the Election Commission is unable to take any effective action.”
Intelligence agencies had recently warned of an imminent attack on the former Delhi chief minister, allegedly orchestrated by operatives of a pro-Khalistan outfit.
The security concerns have been compounded by a recent incident involving Kejriwal’s campaign. On Saturday, AAP shared a video purportedly showing a stone being thrown at Kejriwal’s car. The party accused supporters of BJP candidate Parvesh Verma, who was campaigning nearby, of orchestrating the attack.
Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for February 5, with results set to be declared on February 8.