AAP MLA claims detention, police say called for 'discussion'

An Aam Aadmi Party MLA today claimed that he was detained for trying to conduct puja at a heritage site along the Yamuna river bank, even as the police said the legislator was only called for a "discussion".
According to Kirari MLA Rituraj Govind, he was trying to build a ghat at Nithari talaab near the expressway on the occasion of Chhat puja along the river bank in his constituency.
His move was objected to by the local villagers even as he said that the construction of the ghat was funded by the Delhi government.
However, the police said CrPC section 144 (prohibiting assembly of more than four people) was imposed in the ghat area, which is a heritage property, since this morning in view of the Chhat puja and the MLA had allegedly violated the order.

The prohibitory order will remain in place till November 7, they said.
The MLA alleged that there was minor stone-pelting by a group of villagers, which was led by a local BJP activist.

"I have been detained for over three hours now," the MLA said from Aman Vihar police station.
The police insisted it was a discussion and neither was the MLA detained nor arrested.
"He was trying to build a ghat at a heritage property which is not permitted by law. The locals are also against using the heritage property for Chhath Puja.
"He arrived there today and there was tension in the area. We were present at the site and eased the situation. The MLA is there in the Aman Vihar police station because we are trying to explain to him that it is against the provision of law to use the heritage property for Chhath puja," said a senior police officer.