In an unprecedented face-off with the Centre, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today began a dharna in front of Rail Bhavan calling himself an "anarchist" and asking "honest" police officials to take leave and join his protest demanding action against some of their colleagues.
Defying prohibitory orders in force in the high-security area near the seat of power, Kejriwal accompanied by six of his ministers, came down hard on the Centre for the current situation arising from their demand for action against officials who refused to raid an alleged drug and prostitution racket in an area in South Delhi.
"Some people are saying that I am an anarchist. I am spreading disorder. I agree I am an anarchist. Today, I will create anarchy for Shinde," he said in an impromptu address to his party MLAs and supporters at the dharna site from where police asked him to shift to nearby Jantar Mantar.
He asked honest officials among the police force to take leave and join him in the agitation demanding Delhi police be brought under his government, a demand rejected by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
45-year-old Kejriwal said he has come prepared to stage dharna for at least 10 days and would continue the agitation further if need be.
Earlier in the morning, Kejriwal along with his supporters attempted to go to North Block housing the Home Ministry to lodge their protest. However, they were stopped near the Rail Bhavan as the nearby Vijay Chowk and the entire Rajpath were sealed for the Republic Day rehearsal that was going on.
In his address to his MLAs and supporters, Kejriwal put the blame squarely on the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Centre for the situation that has led to his dharna and appealed to people to join him.
He said any crisis arising out of the situation including disturbance in holding Republic Day celebrations will be the responsibility of the Centre.
Kejriwal claimed that a woman official of the Ugandan High Commission met Law Minister Somnath Bharti and gave him a letter written by an official of the Mission to the government in Uganda on a woman from his country brought to Delhi and allegedly forced into prostitution racket.
He claimed the Ugandan official welcomed their campaign on the issue.
The Chief Minister attacked functioning of police saying the streets of Delhi are not safe for women. He also alleged that some police officials take money share which go to their superiors also.
