New Delhi: Commenting on India Against Corruption (IAC) members protest outside the residences of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Sunday said that law and order must be kept in mind during a protest.
"Whenever there is a protest, law and order should be kept in mind," Dikshit said.
"They should do the protest under the rules and regulations," he added.
He further said the change in the Team Anna campaign's objective was now clear.
"As we all can see, slowly their entire movement is changing. The team had Anna Hazare as their idol and guide, but their campaign is now taking a very personal shape. And, we can see that change in values and ideals by the replacement of 'Arvind' instead of 'Anna' in the caps of campaigners. It might be a symbol of the change their movement is going through," said Dikshit.
Earlier in the day, activist Arvind Kejriwal had called both the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national threats.
Kejriwal, who along with other members of India Against Corruption were released after being detained by the Delhi Police for protesting outside the residences of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi without permission, said he is not surprised by the reaction of the Delhi Police.
"They said I am being detained because I am a threat to peace. Am I a threat or the BJP, the Congress are a threat to the peace of the country? Their intolerance and arrogance is coming out... that any kind of protest will not tolerated," said Kejriwal.
"The Congress and the BJP hold so many protests. They are never stopped. Raj Thackeray takes a rally without police permission, thousands attend, but he is not stopped. He is in fact given police protection. Why are we being stopped from holding a peaceful protest," Kejriwal asked.
The Delhi Police had denied permission for the protest, saying Parliament is in session and prohibitory orders are in place and no protest can be allowed in the high-security areas.
They had also said that India Against Corruption had failed to control a protest that was held in New Delhi last month.
Meanwhile, six metro stations in central Delhi, which were earlier announced to be closed due to security concerns over the protest, will now remain open throughout the day.
Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, Race Course, Jor Bagh and Khan Market stations falling near and around the residences of Singh and Gadkari were to remain closed from 8 am to 6 PM today.
Delhi Metro had taken the decision to close down the stations, five of which fall on the Gurgaon Line, after instructions from Delhi Police.
ANI
First Published: Sunday, August 26, 2012, 11:04