AAP leaders meet Jung, Bassi over Pandey episode, girl killing

New Delhi, Jul 22: Amid growing tussle between Delhi Police and AAP, a group of party leaders today met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and top cop B S Bassi over the alleged "attempt to mow down" party colleague Dilip Pandey by the law enforcing agency's van, and handed over a CD of the whole episode.

The party also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using the Delhi Police "as a political weapon" to suppress the AAP. In a meeting that lasted for over two-and-a-half hours between Delhi Police Commissioner Bassi and party leaders Ashutosh, Dilip Pandey, Durgesh Pathak, Sanjay Singh and Kumar Vishwas at the police headquarters, the attack on Delhi unit convenor and the investigation into the murder case of a 19-year-old girl was discussed.

"We had a long conversation with Delhi Police Commissioner and Special Commissioner (Law and Order) Deepak Mishra. The way police van tried to kill Dilip Pandey. The video footage related to has been given to them. A mobile clipping was also shown.

They have assured a fair inquiry... "The way AAP party workers were beaten brutally. Their (volunteers) photographs were also shown despite the fact they want to ask justice for 19-year-old Meenakshi... We had a long conversation on all this. On humanitarian basis, we are expecting the way Dilip was attacked police will do some investigation in the matter," Singh said.

Lashing out at the Prime Minister, senior party leader Sanjay Singh said Modi was using Delhi police "as a weapon" against AAP leaders and volunteers. "He is using his Gujarat model here... The way he would deal with political opponents."

"The same formula of Modiji used to work in Gujarat of getting the opponents killed and removing them from his way, registering fake cases against them... The same is happening in Delhi. It also happened in Vyapam in MP. In Delhi, police is working as Modi's weapon and is working on his directions," Singh alleged.

Pathak said Bassi has "assured" them of an impartial investigation in both the cases. AAP had earlier alleged laxity in the probe into the girl's murder. Singh said the party has sought time from the Home Minister and the President to take up these issues.

"These are matters of concern. We have been assured by the LG that he will raise this with the city police Commissioner and he will do, whatever, he can in accordance with the law." Pandey has alleged that a Delhi police van tried to run him over yesterday outside the Rajinder Nagar police station where protesting AAP volunteers were detained, the charge which was rubbished by Bassi.

"In my long career, I have not heard of such type of a complaint where someone, even an accused, said that some Delhi Police bus driver or any other driver tried to crush him. We receive different types of complaints. If we receive a complaint, we will take it up seriously and we will also seriously pursue the complaint, if any, of the constable," Bassi said. After the attack on Pandey, the party said it will take the battle to the streets.

"There was an attempt to kill me last night by (Narendra) Modiji's police. We will not be bogged down. This is not Gujarat... We will take this battle to the streets," Pandey said after party leaders met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence.

PTI