Janakpuri death: AAP leaders detained at candlelight march

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj, Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh, and about 25 other party workers were detained by Delhi Police on Sunday when they reached Janakpuri to take part in a candlelight march in memory of Kamal Dhyani, the 25-year-old motorcyclist who died after falling into a deep pit on Friday.

Mr. Bharadwaj said he had gone to the spot only to participate in a peaceful march and light a candle, not to raise slogans or stage a protest. “The gathering was entirely non-violent and peaceful. Is offering condolences a crime? The Delhi police tore posters and snatched candles from our hands,” the AAP leader said.

A senior police officer, however, said the leaders were detained as they were attempting to stage a protest. “They were removed from the spot and detained. They were taken to a nearby police station and later released,” the officer said.

Targeting the BJP government, Mr. Bharadwaj criticised its plans to celebrate one year in power while a young man had lost his life due to “civic negligence”.

Sharing a video of the candlelight march on X, he said the BJP government had “stolen the election through deceit and fraud” and the city was “commemorating this first-year anniversary”.

‘Matter of shame’

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav also criticised the Delhi government, terming its decision to celebrate a year in power without addressing the city’s crumbling infrastructure “shameful”. “The BJP government is not bothered about people who die or go missing every day in the Capital,” he said.

Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood met the victim’s family and assured them of all possible help. He said a detailed probe has been ordered into the incident. “If negligence or dereliction of duty is established at any level, stringent action will be taken against the guilty,” he added.