Slamming Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for staging protest demanding action against some policemen, Delhi unit of Congress today alleged that his government was trying to implement the British-era Rowlatt Act in the capital.
"Under the Rowlatt Act, one didn't have options of appeal, wakil (lawyer) or dalil (arguments)," DPCC president Arvinder Singh Lovely said, referring to the controversy surrounding Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti.
"Kejriwal is implementing such act in Delhi again. Under this act, no one needs to get search warrant to raid suspect place. We got to see such things when the law minister asked for a raid in Khirki area without any search warrant and informing police," Lovely told a press conference here.
He said Bharti did not have the power to rule police as per his directive.
"Police and investigating agencies are totally independent and no one can interrupt them in their work. No minister has the power to see file of cases undergoing investigation.
"However, we saw in television footage that law minister was ordering police to raid there," Lovely said.
On Kejriwal's statement while on dharna today accusing police of taking bribes and making money, the DPCC president said the Delhi Chief Minister was "lying" to people by claiming that he was protesting on these issues.
"Delhi Chief Minister alleged that police officials take money from those constructing their houses. If Kejriwal sits on dharna on such issue, Congress would support him. He is lying to Delhiities that he is protesting over these issues," Lovely claimed.
In an unprecedented face-off with the Centre, Kejriwal began a dharna in front of Rail Bhavan demanding action against some policemen for alleged negligence of duty.
