News Reading Practice #82

          News Reading Practice #82

(100 Day Challenge)

AAP, BJP HOLD TIT-FOR-TAT PROTESTS, TRAFFIC IN CAPITAL COMES TO A HALT

1,000 police personnel deployed across central Delhi; CM Arvind Kejriwal lashes out at BJP over Chandigarh mayoral poll, says 'world's biggest party caught stealing votes'; BJP hits back, says AAP chief will soon land in jail like Sisodia and Jain

Satvika Mahajan
NEW DELHI

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged demonstrations in central Delhi on Friday, turning the city's busy Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg into a protest battleground.

While AAP workers accused the BJP of rigging the recent Chandigarh mayoral election, those from the BJP hit out at AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over alleged corruption in the Delhi government.

In view of the protests, the police ramped up security across the district. They also said that nearly 150 workers of AAP and 60 from the BJP were detained around 1:45 p.m., taken to separate police stations, and released after a few hours.

On January 30, BJP's candidate, Manoj Ksonkar, won the post of Chandigarh's Mayor by securing 16 votes in the 35-member municipal corporation, while the candidate fielded jointly by AAP and Congress, Kuldeep Kumar, got 12 votes. The AAP-Congress combine accused the presiding officer of tampering with the ballot papers.

'Only power important'

Addressing AAP workers protesting against the election, Mr. Kejriwal said that the 'world's biggest party' [BJP] had been caught on camera stealing votes.

"It is clear that for BJP, only power is important. We never know what can happen with our votes. You can vote for one party, but it will register in another's name. Anyone's name can be deleted from the voters' list, and games can be played with India's democracy," the AAP chief said.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who was also present at the spot, said, "It will be written in the history books that when democracy was in danger, people gathered outside the AAP office and provided oxygen to it."

At a press conference, AAP MLA Gopal Rai accused the police of placing some senior party leaders in house arrest, including Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Delhi Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal, to prevent them from participating in the protest.

At the BJP's protest against Mr. Kejriwal, the party's Delhi unit president, Virendra Sachdeva, hit out at the AAP chief for skipping the summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

'Theft committed'

Mr. Sachdeva said the CM not appearing before the ED for questioning in connection with the now scrapped Delhi excise policy was "testimony to the fact that he has committed theft."

He added that they would continue raising this issue in the Assembly.

Mr. Bidhuri said that Mr. Kejriwal will soon land in jail, just like his deputy Manish Sisodia and former Delhi Minister Satyendra Jain.

Traffic hit

The heavy security deployment by the police prevented the BJP and AAP workers from marching towards each other's headquarters. However, it affected movement in several parts of the city, with bumper-to-bumper traffic seen on NH-24.

Traffic jams were seen near India Gate, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, and Minto Road near Connaught Place. A senior officer said several layers of barricades and nearly 1,000 personnel were deployed around ITO and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg.

"Two companies of paramilitary comprising women staff and personnel from the police's armed unit were deployed at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg with anti-riot gear and batons," he added.

Regarding AAP's allegation that some of its leaders were placed under house arrest, the police denied the charge.

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TIT FOR TAT:  a reciprocal or retaliatory action (പകരത്തിനു പകരം, ഉരുളയ്ക്കുപ്പേരി) 

COMES TO A HALT: to stop moving or functioning completely (അവസാനിക്കുക, സ്തംഭിക്കുക) 

DEPLOY: to arrange or position resources for a specific purpose (വിന്യസിപ്പിക്കുക) 

LASH OUT: to criticize or attack someone strongly (ശക്തമായി വിമര്‍ശിക്കുക, ആഞ്ഞടിക്കുക). 

STEAL: to take something unlawfully (മോഷ്ടിക്കുക). 

HIT BACK: to retaliate or respond to an attack (തിരിച്ചടിക്കുക). 

LAND IN JAIL: to be imprisoned (ജയിലിലടക്കുക). 

STAGE DEMONSTRATIONS: to organize and carry out public protests or displays (പ്രകടനം നടത്തുക). 

BATTLEGROUND: an area where conflict or competition takes place (യുദ്ധഭൂമി). 

RIG: to manipulate or influence unfairly (കൃത്രിമത്വം കാണിക്കുക, സ്വാധീനിക്കുക). 

HIT OUT (AT): to attack or strongly criticize (ആക്രമിക്കുക, ശക്തമായി വിമര്‍ശിക്കുക). 

CORRUPTION: dishonesty or fraudulent behavior for personal gain (അഴിമതി). 

IN THE VIEW OF: considering or taking into account (കണക്കിലെടുത്ത്). 

RAMP UP: to increase or strengthen (ശക്തിപ്പെടുത്തുക). 

DETAIN: to keep someone in custody or restrict their freedom (കസ്റ്റഡിയിലെടുക്കുക). 

FIELD: to nominate or present a candidate for election (സ്ഥാനാര്‍ത്ഥിയെ നിര്‍ത്തുക). 

TAMPER WITH: to interfere with something in a way that changes or damages it (അനാവശ്യമായി കൈകടത്തുക, കൃത്രിമത്വം കാണിക്കുക). 

HOUSE ARREST: being confined to one's home as a form of detention (വീട്ടു തലപ്പലിൽ). 

SCRAP: to cancel or discard (ഏകദേശം ഒഴിവാക്കുക). 

TESTIMONY: evidence or a statement given in support of a claim (സാക്ഷ്യം, സാക്ഷ്യപത്രം, തെളിവ്).

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