AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya was arrested and literally dragged out of his Press Conference by the Delhi Police on Saturday under charges of molestation. This incident solicited major furore from the Aam Aadmi Party. Arvind Kejriwal immediately retorted by calling it an ‘undeclared Emergency’ by the Prime Minister.
Kejriwal tweeted saying “Dinesh mohaniya arrested from his press conference in front of all TV cameras. What msg does Modi want to give to everyone?”
Many AAP MLAs have been arrested in the past few days under various charges.
Mohaniya, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Delhi Jal Board, denied such accusations against him saying that there were attempts being made to malign his image as the water mafia was irked with Delhi Government’s clampdown on it.
THE CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY
The entire incident is being understood as an attempt to shift the gaze from the NDMC estate officer MM Khan’s murder case where BJP MLA Mahesh Girri has been accused by AAP of being involved in the murder. What adds to the suspicions around these developments is that AAP claims that Mangesh Tyagi, SHO of Jamia Nagar, who was leading the probe of the murder was transferred on 9 June 2016 and even the ACP was shifted.
THE ROLE OF THE DELHI POLICE
Attacks on the AAP have been ever increasing from the past few days. The controversy regarding the Dual Office Bill proposed by the Delhi Government due to which 21 MLAs face the threat of disqualification was still alive, that now a fresh “attack” comes up which raises more eye brows.
The Delhi Police claimed that Mohaniya had not been responding to the notices sent to him based on the complaint filed by a group of women claiming harassment by him, so they had to arrest him.
The woman were allegedly abused by him when they came to him with a complaint of water crisis in their locality. Another charge levied on Mohaniya is of slapping a senior citizen.
Rupashree Nanda in a tweet claimed that Mohaniya was supposed to go the Police Station after his Press Conference, but he was forcefully picked up midway.
IS THIS MERE POLITICAL VENDETTA?
In my opinion, if there are charges, then the investigation should and is bound to happen. But the way these incidents are handled, always leaves some unanswered questions. Never have I seen an MLA being dragged while addressing a Press Conference, in front of so many TV cameras.
The mere audacity shown in this incident intrigues me. Although it wouldn’t have, if such an action was a regular feature of the Police with all the politicians who were facing any charges against them.
The mere swiftness and agility that the Delhi Police shows when it comes to a softer target (not just politically) is commendable. I wish the same swiftness is shown in cases where there are charges of rape, murder and hate speeches levied at various political leaders or public figures while they roam around freely in all merriment.
I do not intend to trivialize any crime here. But I would love to see the day when all political parties are given such non-discriminatory treatment by the Delhi Police.
