We should remain non-violent: Arvind Kejriwal after FIR against top AAP leaders

Arvind Kejriwal, who is touring Gujarat, re-issued an appeal to his party to stay peaceful. He has accused the BJP of instigating last evening's riots, but said today, "I maintain that we should remain non-violent."

The clashes erupted hours after he was briefly detained at a police station in Gujarat, where he is on a four-day trip challenging the claims of the development of the state that are at the heart of the campaign of Narendra Modi, who is the BJP's choice for prime minister.

AAP leaders Ashutosh and Shazia Ilmi are named in the police's FIR for leading the violence outside the BJP's headquarters in Delhi last evening.

Both said they are ready to be arrested, but denied the charges against them, and asked why no BJP worker has been faulted by the police in its case.

"We will file a counter-FIR against the BJP," said Ms Ilmi to NDTV.

14 members of AAP were arrested this morning by the Delhi Police. Nearly 30 people were injured in the capital in the clashes.

The street battles that played out on national television showed chairs and stones being hurled, and batons being used. The police used water cannons in Delhi to force the mob to disperse. (See Pics)

Some BJP leaders have acknowledged that stones were thrown from within the party office in Delhi but they say workers were acting in self-defence.

Abhijat Mishra of the BJP in Lucknow was seen on camera attacking a man, hitting him repeatedly with a baton. "They pelted us with stones which is why we attacked them," he said.

Last evening, Mr Kejriwal said in a press conference, "If our workers played any part in the violence, this is wrong, and I apologize on their behalf."