Attack on councillor 'utterly shameful': Kejriwal

Terming the attack on an AAP-backed councillor as "utterly shameful", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today accused BJP of "assaulting dalits" all over the country and said Aam Aadmi Party will take up the matter with the President.
Delhi Assembly today passed a resolution against the attack on Rakesh Kumar, councillor from Ward Number 82 of Matia Mahal Assembly constituency, directing the Commissioner of Police to initiate strictest possible action against the perpetrators and proceed against them under provisions of SC/ST Act, IPC and all other applicable laws.
Kumar, a councillor from Kucha Pandit ward in North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) area, was allegedly roughed up by BJP councillors for wearing the AAP cap at Ramlila Ground here during the joint session of all three BJP-controlled MCDs.

The resolution, moved by AAP MLA from Ambedkar Nagar, Ajay Dutt, stated that the House directs that all the assaulters, including the Councilors, who are clearly visible in the videos be arrested immediately.
After the incident, Kejriwal, who is a national convener of AAP, termed BJP as a party of "ruffians" which was targeting dalits.
"Utterly shameful. BJP is a party of gundas. Rakesh is a dalit. BJP assaulting dalits all over India in a systematic way," Kejriwal tweeted.

The Delhi Chief Minister said he has sought an appointment from President Pranab Mukherjee to raise the issue before him.
"From the time the BJP has come to power at the Centre, hooliganism has increased to such levels... The way dalits are targeted. They compelled Rohit Vemula to commit suicide," he told reporters here.

"We warn the BJP to improve or else not only the Dalits, ... The country is made of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, people of different castes. They will all teach the BJP a lesson and destroy it. They will not tolerate castiesm which the BJP is resorting to," Kejriwal said.
Angry over the attack on the councillor, AAP MLAs demanded strict action against the BJP councillors who were involved in the incident. When the ruling-party MLAs demanded immediate action against the "guilty", Delhi Assembly Speaker, Ram Niwas Goel, adjourned the House proceedings for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, senior AAP leader Ashutosh demanded police file a case under SC/ST Act against BJP councillors.

"BJP had again shown its anti-Dalit attitude by beating up AAP's Dalit Councillor Rakesh Kumar in Ramlila ground. "Police should register case under SC/ST act against BJP councillors who beat up Dalit leader of AAP, Rakesh Kumar," he said in his tweets.
The resolution passed in the joint session said, "The CM (Kejriwal) has been intentionally attacking the MCDs and trying to mislead the citizen keeping in view the MCD elections next year."
It asked Delhi government to release the due funds to the civic bodies as per the recommendations of 3rd Finance Commission and implement the 4th Finance Commission recommendations.

Last week, Kejriwal had announced convening of the special session of Delhi Assembly to discuss the working of the civic bodies.