NEW DELHI: While the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was informing the public about the second phase of car rationing odd even scheme on Saturday a shoe was hurled at him.
The attacker, identified as Ved Prakash, claimed to be from Aam Aadmi Sena, a breakaway group of Aam Aadmi Party, was detained by the police. When Kejriwal was explaining about the scheme which is going live from April 15th in the national capital Prakash shouting and seeking Kejriwal's response to a sting operation on the CNG fitness scheme hurled the shoe, which fell short of the Chief Minister.
In January, a woman named Bhawna Arora had thrown ink on the chief minister alleging the odd-even scheme was implemented as part of a "CNG scam." Earlier Kejriwal was also slapped by a man during campaigning for last Assembly election.
Prakash further talked about alleged irregularities in distribution of CNG stickers and claimed that no action has been taken, though a complaint was filed by him with the Chief Minister.
As soon as he hurled the shoe, he was overpowered by unidentified men and slapped. He was then taken away by the police.
Aam Aadmi Party minister Kapil Mishra tweeted “Call details of Ved prakash sharma should be probed. He called BJP Delhi leader right before attacking.”
Delhi BJP , president, Satish Upadhyay said “these incidents show that when the people are disappointed with the party which came to power by showing golden dreams, people react in this way. There is possibility that Kejriwal’s old political colleagues may be behind the incident”.
“It is clear that the irrelevant opposition in Delhi, particularly the BJP, which is jealous of the popularity of the AAP government, is regularly conspiring to divert attention from the real pro-people agenda of the government. AAP states with full responsibility that this attacker was in touch with the BJP, particularly with a leader of Delhi BJP unit” the AAP further said in a statement.
A friend turned foe of Kejriwal, Yogendra Yadav said “Swaraj Abhiyan condemns this attack on Delhi CM. Any such incident is regrettable and deplorable.”
Points for odd even scheme part two
The Delhi government is mulling over implementing the odd-even scheme for 15 days every month, the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday.
“Every month was being thought of since it cannot be made permanent scheme in the absence of a robust public transport system” said Kejriwal. The odd-even scheme will allow cars with odd and even numbers on alternate days.
The list of exemptions include cars carrying VIPs, those running on CNG, vehicles being driven by women, cases of medical emergency and cars carrying disabled persons, Kejriwal announced. A fresh exemption for cars carrying children in school uniform has also been included in the list. The authorities are busy brainstorming to find the way out for this tricky exemption “This will be our biggest challenge. While returning from schools, parents will not have their children with them. It is the practical difficulty we are facing, but we will work it out” said Delhi transport Minister Gopal Rai.
The second phase of the odd-even traffic scheme will start on April 15 and will continue for a fortnight, from 8am -8 pm, Sunday’s will be free for all.
Kejriwal announced that he and ministers of his government would not be exempted from 'odd-even' restrictions.
He also launched a helpline for 'odd-even' part two.
People can call on 011-422400400 if they have any questions related to odd-even traffic scheme.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will gauge the impact of the second phase of the odd-even plan on the capital's air quality at 119 locations in and around the city.
Delhi government has so far been able to rope in around 400 private buses under the DTC’s “Paryavaran Sewa”. The government had managed to add just 1,200 contract carriages to the Corporation’s fleet, despite promising 3,000 additional buses during the odd-even trail in January.
Kejriwal will administer an oath to school goers on April 12. A day later, schools have been asked to observe a “picnic for odd-even” – where kids will paint and design placards for creating awareness about the ambitious car curbs, keeping nearly 10 lakh private cars off the city roads.