Bhartiya Janta Party stages ‘chakka jam’ protest against Kejriwal-led govt’s new excise policy

On Monday, Delhi BJP workers staged a ‘chakka jam’ protest and blocked roads in different parts of the city to raise their issues with the Arvind Kejriwal-led government’s  new excise policy.

The protest led to heavy traffic in parts of the city, including near Akshardham temple and Laxmi Nagar. The chakka jam protest was also held at Car Bazar at Vikas Marg, Dayaram Chowk and Civil Lines in Delhi.

A commuter stuck on National Highway 24 was quoted in a PTI report as saying, “There is a heavy traffic jam on NH-24. Most of the roads are blocked by the protesters and it is causing inconvenience to people like us who need to reach office on time.”

Some of the protesters have now been detained by the police.

WHY IS THE BJP PROTESTING?

Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta, who led the protest near Akshardham temple, said, “The Delhi government is opening liquor shops illegally across the city under its new excise policy. Shops are being opened near residential and religious places. Our protest will continue until the new liquor policy is rolled back.”

When asked about the trouble being caused to commuters by their protest, Adesh Gupta said, “This is a public movement and people are ready to bear with it in order to get rid of the new excise policy of the Aam Aadmi Party government.”

WHAT DID AAP SAY?

Responding to the BJP’s protest, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that the BJP has a “deep relationship” with the liquor mafia.

“The BJP created a system in which they would open illegal liquor shops and runs them in collaboration with the mafia. When the Kejriwal-led government made this new excise policy, it stopped the theft of Rs 3,500 crore. Since the BJP participated in this theft, they are now in pain,” Manish Sisodia said.