Delhi government inaugurated the Signature Bridge on October 4. The occasion, however, did experience its share of high voltage drama. Delhi BJP Chief, along with his supporters entered the premises but they claimed they were not especially invited. What followed was MP Manoj Tiwari and his troop engaging in a scuffle with the Police and the AAP ministers in full public view.
Both the sides have accused each other of misbehaviour and creating chaos in what was supposed to be a celebratory occasion.
Spat which played out on live television
Reportedly, Manoj Tiwari, under whose jurisdiction the North-East Delhi comes, turned up at the event with his supporters. He said that the Rs 2,000 crores worth asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge was part of his constituency and that he had full right to attend its inauguration, as reported by NDTV.
It may be noted that the new bridge got approval in 1997. However, the work on the bridge started only in 2008. Due to more delays, the bridge finally opened up this year. Tiwari said, “In my constituency (North East Delhi.), I re-started construction of the bridge after it was stalled for many years and now Arvind Kejriwal is organising an inauguration ceremony.”
Tiwari arrived at around 3:30 pm and tried to enter the bridge from Bhajanpura side. He was stopped by the police. They somehow managed to dodge the personnel at this point but were again stopped by Rapid Action Force (RAF) as MP tried to get close to the stage.
At this point, a full-blown physical fight broke out between the police, Manoj Tiwari and his supporters and also AAP supporters. In one of the videos, Manoj Tiwari manhandled North-East district DCP Atul Kumar Thakur.
Shocking: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari manhandles Delhi Police officer just because he was not invited by Kejriwal government at the inaugural function of Signature Bridge. Did this happen when Kejriwal was not invited for inaugural ceremony of Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line? Ans is NO. pic.twitter.com/dzLFRsvOAo
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) November 4, 2018
Some of the people even ransacked the premise by tearing down banners while shouting slogans.
Few more clips from signature bridge chaos.pic.twitter.com/qDcfmMwKkr
— ASHUTOSH MISHRA (@ashu3page) November 4, 2018
Another video emerged out of the event where people were seen flinging plastic water bottles at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
More shocking videos from Signature bridge chaos : bottles were thrown on Delhi CM during the function in presence of Delhi police. It could have been anything in the bottle. Serious breach of security of elected CM. pic.twitter.com/OOJa3RVy7N
— ASHUTOSH MISHRA (@ashu3page) November 4, 2018
Notably, there was an attack from the other side as well, with AAP MP Amanatullah Khan pushing MP Manoj Tiwari, making him lose his balance.
#WATCH Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan seen pushing Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari during the inauguration of Delhi’s Signature Bridge (Source: BJP Delhi Chief Manoj Tiwari’s office) pic.twitter.com/Vl2CtDqeBX
— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2018
“Lesson in next four days”
Following the incident, Manoj Tiwari issued a warning to the personnel who entered into a brawl with him. He even named one Additional DCP RP Meena. He said, “I’ve identified the policemen who got into an altercation with me. I recognize them all and in four days, I’ll show them what the police really is(Police ke jin logon ne mujhse dhakka-mukki ki hai unki shinakht ho gayi hai. Mein in sabko pehchaan chuka hun aur 4 din mein inko bataunga ki police kya hoti hai.)”.
#WATCH Following ruckus at inauguration of Delhi’s Signature Bridge, BJP MP from North East Delhi Manoj Tiwari says "Police ke jin logon ne mujhse dhakka-mukki ki hai unki shinakht ho gayi hai. Mein in sabko pehchaan chuka hun aur 4 din mein inko bataunga ki police kya hoti hai." pic.twitter.com/Pstba0IreY
— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2018
Reacting on the whole situation, Joint Commissioner of Police (eastern range) Ravindra Yadav said that the scuffle happened because even organisers were unwilling to let the MP on the stage, he acted against it. That was when DCP, additional DCP and ACPs acted as a buffer between the two.
CM Kejriwal took to Twitter to express is discontent over how the whole situation turned out to be.
Unprecedented. Chaos by BJP at Signature Bridge inauguration site. Its a Del govt prog. Police mute spectator. Can LG, being head of Del police, ensure peace and order at Signature bridge inauguration site?
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 4, 2018
On the other hand, speaking about pushing Manoj Tiwari, AAP MLA Amanatullah said that he did not push Tiwari but only tried to stop him from climbing the stage.
Manoj Tiwari was not invited at inauguration of Signature Bridge still he came there with his supporters. They torn our posters&hoardings,showed black flags&attacked our workers. When Arvind ji arrived they came near the stage but police didn’t stopped them: Amanatullah Khan, AAP pic.twitter.com/JZBcp7sR9P
— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2018
Tiwari said that he was disappointed with AAP’s behaviour of manhandling a parliamentarian. He also accused the police of misbehaving with him. Tiwari has also alleged that Khan threatened to shoot him. “The whole incident took place in the presence of Delhi CM. I am going to file an FIR over the incident,” he said, as reported by India Today.
Also Read: Everything Is Not About Narendra Modi vs. Rahul Gandhi vs. Arvind Kejriwal
