)
Aam Aadmi Party leaders Ashutosh and Shazia Illmi were taken away by Delhi police to give a statement into the violence that broke out outside the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) office on Wednesday.
"I request all my party workers to remain non-violent and action would be taken against those who indulge in act of violence...I have been called by the Delhi police to give my statement and I will cooperate and abide by what they say," said Ashutosh while going towards the police station.
The 14 AAP workers who were arrested on charges of rioting after the clash were granted bail.
The Election Commission has also written to the AAP today after receiving complaint from the BJP.
"We have received a notice asking to explain the protest outside the BJP office, however, there is no deadline to respond to the letter," said Deepak Bajpai, media coordinator of the party.
Bajpai said that the party will respond to the EC in appropriate time.
Meanwhile, AAP leader Prashant Bhushan would be writing to the EC and the Delhi police opposing the arrest of party workers and demanding action against BJP workers.
Those arrested have been booked on charges of rioting and obstructing police officers in discharge of their duties, police sources said. AAP spokespersons Ashutosh, Shazia Ilmi and Anand Kumar have also been reportedly named in the FIR. This was confirmed through a 'tweet' by party spokesperson Atishi Marlena. "Ashutosh, Shazia, Prof Anand Kumar were 'rioting', Nalin Kohli (of BJP) who attacked AAP protestors with a stick was obviously peaceful!," the tweet said.
According to police sources, an FIR was registered last night at the Parliament Street police station on charges of rioting, damage to public property and obstructing public servants in performing their duties.
On Wednesday, the AAP volunteers, including Ashutosh and Ilmi, had clashed with BJP workers outside the saffron party’s Delhi and Lucknow headquarters after Arvind Kejriwal was detained briefly by the state police in Gujarat during his tour.
Kejriwal, who began his four-day tour of Gujarat, was detained for 30 minutes for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by travelling in a long carcade.
Things turned ugly during the clash as around 28 people were reportedly injured. Video footages showed the party workers using stones, chairs and lathis to attack each other.
Kejriwal apologised for the violent behavior of his party workers. “I apologise for their behaviour and I once again urge them to remain non-violent," Kejriwal told reporters.
