Yogendra Yadav justifies AAP's protest, says 'Delhi police lacks accountability'

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Yogendra Yadav on Monday justified Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's 'dharna' outside Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's office demanding action against the erring Delhi Police officers, and said that it was necessary because of the troubles faced by the people in the capital.

"It was unusual for a chief minister to sit on 'dharna' on such a small demand, it was necessary because of the troubles faced by the people of Delhi. Delhi public thinks that the police officials are corrupt, inefficient and not answerable to people, especially to women," he told media here today.

Recalling the three incidents to prove Delhi police's inaction, Yadav said that people are agitated by the behavior of the police.

"Over the last few days a woman is burnt by her in-laws, the Danish gangrape case, the Khirkee village raid, all these three cases prove inaction of the Delhi police," he said.

"The lack of accountability has become very clear from the actions of the Delhi Police over the last few days. Public is agitated by police's behavior, they want a solution," he added.

He further said that Kejriwal's protest against the police is to fulfill the party's election manifesto that the Delhi Police would be brought under the state government and not under the central government.

"The actions of the Chief Minister were merely to ensure that we keep our promise that we listed in the manifesto," he said.

While urging people to join the protest, Yadav also charged the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for having double standards on this issue.

"All those who have faced police inefficiency and corruption should join the protest with us", he said.

"Other parties are double faced on the issue. BJP also says that Delhi Police should come under the State government, then why doesn't it ask its MLAs to join the CM's Dharna?" he questioned.

Reacting to allegations made against Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti for his controversial midnight raid, and illegally detaining Ugandan women, forcing them to give medical tests, and making racial comments, Yadav denied any such action by his party members.

"The Ugandan High Commission wrote to us with an instance of how women are brought to India and forced into the sex trade. They thanked us," he said.

"AAP is strongly against any form of racism, we welcome any national from any country. If any minister or leader from our party has been racist, we would definitely not tolerate that. We welcome foreign nationals in our capital," he added.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal and other AAP leaders were stopped at Rail Bhavan by the Delhi Police while heading for a protest outside Shinde's office demanding action against Delhi Police today.

Party leader Sanjay Singh made it clear yesterday that AAP will stage the protest if no action is taken against the police officers.

AAP is demanding the suspension of the station house officers (SHO) of Sagarpur and Malviya Nagar police stations and two assistant commissioners of police.