Arvind Kejriwal, other AAP leaders detained minutes after ‘Dilli Chalo’ message | Video

Kejriwal criticised the security measures in the national capital, accusing PM and Amit Shah of creating an atmosphere of authoritarian rule.

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AAP convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was detained by Delhi Police on Saturday after he stepped out to protest over the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) row. Kejriwal, along with other AAP leaders, was detained minutes after posting a “Challo Dilli” message on X, urging people to join the protest.

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Speaking to reporters before he was detained, Kejriwal criticised the security measures in the national capital, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah of creating an atmosphere of “tana shahi” (authoritarian rule). He also alleged that the government was trying to suppress questions over electoral irregularities.

“Across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have created a state of ‘tana shahi’. There are police and paramilitary forces everywhere, and people are not being allowed to leave their homes. I will step out of my house now, and you will see police personnel everywhere. People are being stopped and detained on the roads, and no one is being allowed to go anywhere,” Kejriwal said.

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He alleged that the security measures were linked to allegations of electoral malpractice, claiming that the Prime Minister had been “caught red-handed” and was trying to suppress the issue.

“But the people of this country will not let that happen. The youth of the country have stood up. Today, leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), including Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, along with Dhruv Rathee and Ratna Singh, have been arrested,” he said.

Also Read: 'Cops inside plane': Moment when Dipke, team CJP were detained upon landing in Delhi | Video

Kejriwal appealed to young people across the country to unite, saying they had a role to play in protecting democracy.

“The youth of the country are very angry. To everyone listening to me, I want to appeal to the youth of the country: all of us must come together to save the country. Wherever you are, step out of your homes right now,” he said.

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  Shubham Pandey works as Chief Content Producer at the Hindustan Times online desk, where he writes news articles, explainers, and features with a focus on audience engagement, traffic growth, and real-time storytelling. With over a decade of experience across journalism, digital newsrooms, and strategic communications, he brings a strong understanding of online journalism, particularly in leveraging SEO, search trends, and live blogs to drive sustained reader engagement. Previously, he led the sports team at Zee News English, strengthening editorial operations while delivering measurable growth in readership. His reporting experience includes assignments with Firstpost, where he covered sports with a strong narrative focus. Shubham has worked across both startups and large media organisations, including building a sports website from the ground up in a startup environment—demonstrating versatility and leadership. His stint as Senior Account Manager at Edelman India further expanded his expertise in strategic communications, brand storytelling, and reputation management. Across roles, he specialises in content planning, writing, and crafting credible narratives for diverse audiences. He has collaborated with former international cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara, Nick Knight, and Danny Morrison to create compelling, high-impact sports content, blending editorial depth with mass appeal. When he is not writing news or watching sports, he enjoys exploring films from around the world.Read More