AAP's protest march to PM Modi's residence, in support of Arvind Kejriwal, stopped at Parliament Street

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) protest march from Mandi House to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence was stopped at Parliament street on Sunday. The Delhi police said that the party had not received permission for the march. 

They don't have permission (for protest march). They've been contained at Parliament street. They're being told that they can't go any further. Specially trained personnel are deployed here. We're sure they'll (AAP members & protesters) listen to us: DCP New Delhi on AAP protest pic.twitter.com/eR5lqQWOXg

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2018

Visuals of AAP members & supporters at Parliament Street. They were marching towards PM residence to support Delhi CM's demand that Delhi Lt Governor end strike by bureaucrats. Delhi DCP says 'They've been contained at Parliament street & are being told they can't go any further' pic.twitter.com/CftpRdA71J — ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2018

The march which began around 5 pm was in support of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and three of his Cabinet colleagues, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, who have been holding a sit-in at the Lt Governor's office for the last one week, demanding that Anil Baijal direct IAS officers to end their 'strike'. They also demand that the LG approve the proposal for doorstep delivery of ration. 

रुके न जो, झुके न जो, दबे न जो,मिटे न जो 
हम वो इंक़लाब हैं,ज़ुल्म का जवाब हैं
हर शहीद का,गरीब का हमीं तो ख़्वाब हैं। 

तख़्त और ताज को, कल के लिए आज को
जिसमें ऊंच-नीच है ऐसे हर समाज को
हम बदल के ही रहेंगे वक़्त के मिजाज़ को !

तीसरे दिन भी दिल्ली के हक़ के लिए संघर्ष जारी है ! pic.twitter.com/lKjhL9wSOQ

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 13, 2018

Also, five prime Metro stations in the heart of Delhi were on Sunday closed. Lok Kalyan Marg metro station, which falls in the vicinity of PM Modi's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, was the first to have been shut ahead of the march. 

"As advised by Delhi Police, no entry or exit will be available at Lok Kalyan Marg station from 12 noon onwards till further directions," a senior DMRC official had said earlier. He had later said that four more stations were closed, but interchange facilities at central secretariat station would be available. "As advised by the police, entry and exit at four more metro stations will be closed from 2 pm onwards till further directions. The stations are - Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Janpath," the official had said. "However, interchange between Yellow and Violet Lines at Central Secretariat will remain available," he had added.

Kejriwal had on Friday said that the march was planned after his letters to the PM, seeking his intervention in the matter, drew no response. 

सिंघासन खाली करो,
कि जनता आती है...#अब_रण_होगा pic.twitter.com/wmTPvcn13Y — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 17, 2018

.@AAPPunjab Leadership participating in march to PM House.#अब_रण_होगा pic.twitter.com/Ay1BufbiYh — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 17, 2018

लोहिया जी ने कहा था कि जिंदा कौमें पांच साल इंतजार नहीं करतीं....
आज दिल्ली में सच होता देख लीजिए !#अब_रण_होगा pic.twitter.com/28jEYjiNJp — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 17, 2018

हर जोर-जुल्म की टक्कर में, संघर्ष हमारा नारा है...

लड़ेंगे, जीतेंगे !#अब_रण_होगा pic.twitter.com/IR0S0jp21P — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 17, 2018

जब-जब मोदी डरता है, पुलिस को आगे करता है...

पुलिस के दम पर संसद-मार्ग पर रोका गया AAP का मार्च।

पुलिस के दम की ये सरकार, नहीं चलेगी, नहीं चलेगी !#अब_रण_होगा pic.twitter.com/Wn2k9SQ7jJ — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 17, 2018

Kejriwal on Saturday had alleged that there is de facto president's rule in Delhi because of what the AAP government describes as an ongoing IAS officers' 'strike'. In response to a tweet about IAS officers 'withdrawing from work', he had tweeted, "I agree. It is de facto president's rule in Delhi through IAS strike."

I don’t think Hon’ble LG can take such a decision on his own. Obviously, PMO has directed him to refuse permission. Just like IAS strike is being done at PMO’s instance. https://t.co/hKEe99s8Fp — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 16, 2018

Good morning Delhi

जो प्रधान मंत्री किसी राज्य में अफ़सरों की हड़ताल करवा के वहाँ का काम काज ठप करता है, क्या ऐसे प्रधान मंत्री के हाथों में देश का लोकतंत्र सुरक्षित है? — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 17, 2018

On Sunday, he posted another tweet requesting PM Modi to ask IAS officers to call off their 'strike'. 

सर, पूरी दिल्ली ही नहीं, पूरा देश अब तो आपसे गुहार कर रहा है- इन IAS अफ़सरों की हड़ताल ख़त्म करवा दीजिए और लोगों द्वारा चुनी हुई सरकार को प्लीज़ काम करने दीजिए। जनता बहुत आहत और अपमानित महसूस कर रही है। https://t.co/hXnPNpUK7E — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 17, 2018

Meanwhile, asserting that they were 'being used for political ends', IAS officers on Sunday said that they were not on 'strike' as claimed by Kejriwal. They also said that all files were being moved and that they were feeling frightened and victimised.

"I would like to inform that we are not on strike. The information that IAS officers in Delhi are on strike is completely false and baseless. We are attending meetings, all departments are doing their works. We are sometimes also working on holidays, all work is being done, all files are being moved... Reports over how desilting of drains has been hampered due to our so-called strike is also not true," Manisha Saxena, IAS, said.

"We are only accountable to the law. We are completely apolitical and neutral. We have never been required to come out and clarify our stand," she added.

Another IAS officer, Transport Commissioner Varsha Joshi, said, "I have been targeted by social media handles of a certain political party in an unfair manner. The way we have been forced to do certain jobs is not righ... We are feeling frightened and victimised, we are being used for political ends, we are here only for work... All files are being moved... Work not being hampered... Shocked and scared after chief secretary's 'assault'."

(With PTI inputs)