Ex-Aam Aadmi Party leader Yogendra Yadav was on Tuesday arrested along with 85 volunteers of his Swaraj Abhiyan during a protest on farmers’ issue at Jantar Mantar as police thwarted their planned rally to the prime minister’s residence.
Condemning the police action, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal came out in support of Yadav, with whom he had a bitter public falling out four months ago leading to the latter’s ouster from the Aam Aadmi Party.
The protesters alleged that the policemen manhandled Yadav and other volunteers during the crackdown in the wee hours, a charge denied by the police, which said it was a preventive arrest as they were planning to take out a rally without permission in the high security area.
“Yogendra Yadav and 85 others were arrested around 1.30 am today. They had permission to carry out the protest for two days. They were also planning a march at the Delhi Race Course. Last evening, they asked to extend for permission until August 16. As the deadline came to an end, we asked them to vacate the place