The Dharna by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues has entered the second day today.
They spent their first night under open sky. Kejriwal said that he and other members of his cabinet will continue their protest till their demands are met.
He began a 10-day dharna in central Delhi on Monday demanding suspension of a few police personnel for alleged dereliction of duty.
Kejriwal said he will run the administration from the dharna site if needed and Central Government will be responsible for any constitutional crisis.
He and his cabinet colleagues initially wanted to stage a dharna outside Home Ministry, however, his cavalcade heading towards Rajpath was stopped near the Rail Bhawan. Clashes were reported between AAP volunteers and the Delhi Police after more people came to join the dharna.
Delhi Transport Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj was also detained by police but was released later.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde met the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the wake of protests by the Delhi CM.
Earlier Shinde ruled out any action against Delhi Police Personnel till an inquiry, which has been ordered by Lt Governor, is over.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi, Shinde asked Kejriwal to maintain dignity of the office he holds.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari charged the Aam Admi Party with resorting to gimmickry alleging that they know that they will not be be able to fulfill the promises made by them.
Talking to reporters in New Delhi, BJP spokesperson, Nirmala Sitharaman said, the issues being flagged by AAP are important but the way the party has adopted, is not acceptable.
Criticizing Kejriwal for trying to protect his ministers, Delhi Congress Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely told reporters that executive agencies can not misuse law and there is a difference between running a government and holding an agitation.
AIR correspondent reports that the protest led to massive traffic jams in and around Central Delhi. Leave of all Delhi Police personnel has also been cancelled in view of the agitation.
Members of the Mahila Congress held a protest outside the Delhi Police Headquarters demanding action against Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti's alleged misbehaviour with African women.
Four metro stations in the north block area of Delhi will remain closed from today till further notice in the wake of sit-in protest by the Delhi Chief Minister.
A Metro official said, no services will be available at the four stations – Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhavan and Race Course from 6 AM onward. Also, no interchange will be available at Central Secretariat.
Trains on Line 6 coming from Badarpur to Central Secretariat will terminate at Khan Market metro station and this arrangement will be in place till further directions.
