Delhi CM requests for more force from Centre, meets officials to discuss measures to restore peace

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to increase police force in violence-affected areas in northeast Delhi and held a meeting with AAP MLAs and officials to discuss measures to restore peace.

The chief minister, accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia, other ministers and party MLAs, visited Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat to pray for peace in Delhi. He also requested the people to maintain calm and peace.

Earlier, attending an all-party meeting convened by Shah, Kejriwal requested that police force be increased in affected areas and powers be given to it to take necessary action to contain violence.

He also visited the family of Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal who was killed in violence on Monday. The chief minister faced protests as a crowd gathered outside Lal's house in Burari and raised slogans asking him to go back.

"Violence can solve nothing. The people of Delhi should maintain calm and peace," Kejriwal urged on more than one occasion.

Kejriwal started the day meeting his party MLAs and officials at his residence to discuss the situation in the city.

He instructed the district magistrates and SDMs to carry out peace marches in the affected areas, said a Delhi government statement.

In the afternoon, Kejriwal attended a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, the Delhi police commissioner and leaders of different political parties.

"In the meeting with the Union Home Minister, he appealed for deployment of additional forces in Delhi and allow the police to take necessary action."