'People will evaluate AAP based on promises fulfilled, not on protests': Manish Tewari

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Tuesday criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's protest demanding suspension of Delhi Police personnel, and said that people would evaluate the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) based on the promises they have fulfilled, and not on the number of protests held.

Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party has been protesting against the suspension of Delhi cops, who are accused by his administration of dereliction of duty.

"If they try to run from their responsibilities, the public who have given them a chance won't take long in changing their minds," he told media here today.

"We (Congress) extended our support so that the people of Delhi do not face re-elections. They accepted our support and now they must fulfill their promises. People of Delhi will not evaluate them based on the number of protests held by them, but they will evaluate based on the promises the party has made, and to what extent have then been fulfilled," he added.

Sharply reacting to Kejriwal's remarks on Republic Day by calling it a "procession of floats," Tewari asked whether the responsibility of Republic Day lies solely on the Centre.

"Is the responsibility of 26th January only on the Indian Government? Isn't it a responsibility of people who took oath of the constitution? Do they have faith in the Indian constitution?" he questioned.

Tewari also hit out at Kejriwal for branding himself an anarchist, and said that that the people here would decide whether they want anarchy or administration within the state.

"If we have states where we stand in the opposition, should we also sit on 'dharnas' against the state governments? These things should be discussed in a proper way through dialogues," he added.

The Kejriwal-led AAP protest entered its second day on Tuesday, and neither of the two major political parties-the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are in favour of its continuance.

The AAP protests are taking place in the national capital despite heavy rains

Commuters have been the hardest hit in central Delhi due to the AAP protest

Over 4000 police personnel have secured the protest area, and Rapid Action Force (RAF) teams are on standby

Kejriwal has threatened to disrupt this year's Republic Day parade on grounds that both the BJP and the Congress, besides a section of the media are misleading the people.

He has also accused Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde of inconveniencing India by not cooperating with the Delhi administration. He said that as chief minister he will decide where he wants to sit for his protest, and not the central government or the Delhi Police.

Meanwhile, four Metro stations - Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udhyog Bhavan, Race Course - have stopped operating until further notice. Massive traffic jams are expected in central Delhi.

Earlier, Kejriwal and AAP workers tried to remove the barricades at Rail Bhawan and threatened to go on an indefinite strike if his demands were not met.

"If by January 26, our demands are not met, then we will fill Rajpath with lakhs of people," Kejriwal warned.