Kejriwal in jail, AAP to launch contact programme

New Delhi, May 22: The

today decided to launch a door-to-door contact programme to apprise people about the circumstances leading to party chief

's arrest in a criminal defamation case instead of holding protest against it.

The decision was taken at a meeting a number of AAP leaders had with Kejriwal at the Tihar Jail this morning where the former chief minister has been lodged since yesterday. "We had a meeting with Arvind Kejriwal during which it was decided that the party won't protest anymore and would launch a door-to-door campaign and tell people how a honest man like Kejriwal is behind the bars," senior AAP leader Ashutosh told PTI.

Scores of AAP workers had clashed with police last night outside Tihar Jail protesting arrest of Kejriwal. 59 protesters, including senior leaders Yogendra Yadav, Manish Sisodia and Rakhi Birla, were arrested by police for violating prohibitory orders. Asked about Kejriwal, he said the AAP chief has been kept in the 'Vipasana' cell and was fine.

Kejriwal's wife Sunita, who carried clothes and medicines to him this morning, said, "He is not a criminal. Why should he pay money when he is ready to give an undertaking." The AAP leader was sent to Tihar Jail till May 23 by Delhi court yesterday after he refused to furnish bail bond in a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. Sunita also criticised the media for calling her husband's action 'drama'. "It is wrong the way media is presenting the entire episode."

PTI