Delhi Police caught in a cleft stick

Delhi Police was caught in a bizarre situation Tuesday - providing security to Chief Minister Arvind Kejirwal, who has taken to the streets, ironically, in protest against them while, at the same time, taking on his army of supporters creating a major crisis for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, ahead of the Republic Day parade here where Japan Prime Minister Shintaro Abe is the chief guest.

"The circumstances in which we are operating are trying to say the least," said a senior Delhi Police officer. "On the one hand, we are supposed to provide security to our chief minister. At the same time he is instigating his crowd against us. We are trying our best to see that the situation does not erupt in violence."

The officer said that despite the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders telling their activists not to indulge in violence, their swelling numbers were making the situation go out of hand with people breaking crowd barriers and clashing with police sporadically.

Kejriwal, an unusual politician, has repeatedly shunned police security, saying "God will take care of me." But police provide him a cordon and shadow as per security protocol for a head of a provincial government.

Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena said in warning: "We are all set to maintain law and order. We will take all necessary action. For the Jan 26 (Republic Day) security no obstruction will be allowed."

Even as he said this, the crowds strained at the barricades and there were fears of violence breaking out any time.

AAP leaders repeatedly appealed for calm with their spokesman Ashutosh, a former TV anchor, reiterating that "we are not here for any kind of clash and we don't want violence."