Kejriwal assails Centre over Patiala House Courts attacks

New Delhi, Feb 18: Attacking the Modi government for "not following" the Supreme Court order for maintaining peace at Patiala House Courts, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, Feb 18 said such a situation could lead to "dictatorship" and insisted courts be "shut down" if issues like what is anti-national are to be adjudged outside judiciary.

Reacting to attacks on mediapersons and JNU students and teachers in Patiala House courts complex despite the directives of the apex court to maintain order there, the Chief Minister said, "This was a message that the Centre was giving to the Supreme Court that do whatever you like, we will not follow your orders. It has given an open challenge."

Talking to reporters after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee on the JNU row, the Chief Minister said if Supreme Court's order is not followed barely 200 meters from where it sits, "then there will be no such thing called Constitution.

Then it will be the Centre and the Prime Minister's dictatorship. This is something very serious. There is no judiciary after that." Questioning the failure of the police to arrest Delhi BJP MLA O P Sharma, accused of beating up a student in the court complex, Kejriwal said "A BJP MLA and some anti-social elements attacked students, journalists and innocent people at the Patiala Court.

When those who attacked the journalists, students at the Patiala Court were asked why did they attack, they said they were shouting pro-Pakistan slogans.

If anyone raises pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans should we kill him? "It's like if anyone commits murder and police asks about the reason for it, the accused will say he was raising pro-Pakistan slogans. And then police will let him off.Is this a new law in this country?" Flanked by his Cabinet colleagues, Kejriwal said that a "new law" is being followed in the country where anyone can be killed on the pretext of raising anti-national slogans.

"Why is O P Sharma still free...is this a new law... who will decide whether it is against the nation? Then shut down the Supreme Court and High Court," Kejriwal said. He said the Centre had yesterday given an open challenge to the apex court saying "we don't follow your orders. Do whatever you want. This is dangerous for the nation."

He said if the Centre could not arrest those involved in the act, then how can they arrest Pathankot terrorists.

Kejriwal alleged that the Centre was not arresting the accused to keep the pot boiling over the issue.

PTI