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Government bows, Kejriwal ends protest

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IANS New Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday evening ended his dramatic street protest here following an appeal by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, who partially acted on the AAP leader's demand for action against five policemen.

His head wrapped with a woollen muffler, Kejriwal told the media and an army of supporters in the heart of the city that he and his ministers were ending the protest begun Monday "right here" -- outside Rail Bhavan, near the Rajpath boulevard where the Republic Day parade takes place.

The announcement sparked off full-throated cries of "Inquilab Zindabad" and "Vande Mataram" from the mass of supporters.

 

Jung stepped in to defuse what was developing to be a major crisis for the central government after Kejriwal threatened to continue his sit-in indefinitely, and police and Aam Aadmi Party activists clashed more than once leaving several people injured.

Jung urged Kejriwal to withdraw the protest "in view of the sacrosanct occasion of the Republic Day and the perceived security situation".

He promised that a judicial inquiry ordered against allegedly errant policemen would be expedited and in the meantime two police officers would be sent on leave.

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First Published: Jan 21 2014 | 8:08 PM IST

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