Arvind Kejriwal safe, stones thrown at his car

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s car was pelted with stones in Ludhiana Monday, the last day of the AAP chief’s five-day state tour. Protesters pelted stones at the Innova in which Mr Kejriwal was travelling in Ludhiana’s Hassanpur village, where he held a meeting at a marriage hall. Mr Kejriwal was unhurt, and was immediately shifted to another car.

DIG S.K. Kalia said SSP Jagraon Ravcharan Brar told him he was in the vehicle with the Delhi CM when the incident occurred and assured him he was safe.

AAP sources said some people protesting against the Delhi 1984 riots had caused the trouble.

“My car attacked with sticks and stones in Ludhiana. Front glass pane broken. Badals and Congress nervous They can’t break my spirits,” the CM tweeted later.

The AAP uploaded a photo showing the shattered windshield with a visibly worried Punjab police officer standing close to the car. The car appeared stranded on a rural road.

Mr Kejriwal’s Patiala visit later in the day was called off following the attack.

DIG S.K. Kalia claimed that the police made adequate security arrangements at the venue, but AAP sources said some people protesting against the 1984 riots in Delhi had caused the trouble. Most of the protesters had the backing of the Qutal-e-am Sangarh committee, a Sikh organisation that is backed by the state government.

Mr Kejriwal left the venue via a back door after the hour-long meeting, but some 40 men waiting at the back door saw him and pelted stones at him. The DIG, Mr Kalia, refused to comment when asked what had led to the security lapse. SSP Jagraon Ravcharan Brar too was not available for comment.

AAP national origanisation head Durgesh Pathak claimed the mob was armed with rods and sticks but said Mr Kejriwal was safe. “The tour will continue according to the schedule,” an AAP spokesperson said, but called the attack “a huge security lapse”.

“The police allowed the mob to get too close to the vehicle,” he said. “Some miscreants threw stones at the Delhi chief minister’s car, but he is safe and was given police protection,” ADGP (law and order) H.S. Dhillon said.

AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Durgesh Pathak, Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Bhagwant Mann will join a protest by the Unemployed Linemen Union and interact with party volunteers. The AAP has emerged a major player ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab due next year.