The Delhi government on Tuesday accused Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung of unleashing an "Emergency-like situation" after its Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar was arrested amid high drama over an alleged fake degree.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told the media that vested interests were ganging up against the AAP government because of its anti-corruption campaign but vowed that the Aam Aadmi Party won't be cowed down.
"Corrupt leaders are trying to create an emergency like situation in Delhi. AAP government's biggest achievement till date is that we have shaken the roots of corruption," Sisodia said.
He said although the issue of Tomar's alleged fake degree was in court, about 40 police personnel swooped on Tomar's office and took him away as if he was a fugitive.
"The college has clearly stated in an affidavit that Tomar was its student and that he attained his law degree from the particular institute," he added.
Delhi Police does not report to the AAP government but to the Lt. Governor and the union home ministry.
"The police told Tomar they had come to see some documents... They asked him to accompany them to his house. On the way they told his driver to get off and took charge of his vehicle and told him he was being detained.
"They told Tomar that he could ask someone to bring the documents to the police station...
"What is going on?" asked a livid Sisodia. "Was he (Tomar) running away? Did he explode bombs in Delhi? There is an allegation (against him). The matter is in the court. What was the need to arrest him?"
Sisodia added: "There is something wrong... This arrest is illegal. There is an Emergency-like situation. This is supposed to be a democracy... Maybe it is an attempt to teach the AAP a lesson (for what we are doing)."
The police arrested the 49-year-old AAP leader on Tuesday morning on charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery.
A police team had earlier gone to Bihar on the direction of the high court to investigate charges that Tomar had obtained a fake degree.
Reacting to Tomar's arrest, AAP leader Kumar Vishwas said the manner in which Jung appointed Mukesh Kumar Meena as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) chief showed that the Lt. Governor and the central government are scared and are using Delhi Police.
