Constitution does not stop CM from protesting: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who faced flak for his protest in the heart of the capital, on Saturday said the Constitution does not prevent the Chief Minister from holding a dharna.

“I read the Constitution, couldn't find anywhere that a Chief Minister cannot hold ‘dharna’,” he said on criticism to his two-day dharna outside Rail Bhavan. He also charged that “the media is getting paid to do negative stories on AAP”.

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Kejriwal’s role in leading a protest while holding constitutional office has come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court which on Friday slammed law enforcing agencies for allowing unlawful assembly of supporters of the Chief Minister in the heart of national capital.

In his Republic Day address at Chhatrasal Stadium, the Delhi Chief Minister said the Jan Lokpal Bill is almost ready and will be passed at a special session in Ramlila Maidan in February. Holding that security of women in the national capital is “highly compromised”, he said the government has formed a committee under the Chief Secretary for the formation of Mahila Suraksha Dal in the city.

He said that it may not have powers like the police but the force will work like security guards stationed outside buildings and housing societies. “They will provide security to women. We will have retired army personnel, police and home guards as members of the suraksha dal,” he said.

Kejriwal also said the committee under the chief secretary will make provisions to ensure that rapists are sent to jail within 3 to 6 months.