New Delhi:
A protest by members of BJP youth wing in Delhi turned violent today, with the activists clashing with the police. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha were demanding resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit over the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on irregularities in the Commonwealth Games.
The activists turned violent as they reached Parliament Street. Police tried to persuade them for at least 45 minutes but the crowd did not back down. In fact some of the protestors of them resorted to stone pelting resulting in 23 police personnel being injured, two seriously.
The police had to resort to
lathicharge and water cannons to disperse the crowd. They also fired 15 rounds of tear gas shells.
A case of rioting and destruction of public property has been registered against the protestors. At least 38 BJP activists were taken to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital for treatment. Most suffered minor injuries but close to a dozen people have been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), hospital sources told NDTV.
BJP members raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha and demanded a statement from Home Minister P Chidambaram on the issue.
The issue led to the adjournment of the house.
Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj called the government "corrupt and brutal." She claimed most of the activists admitted in RML hospital had suffered fractures. Sjhe said BJP would raise the issue in both houses of the Parliament.