The Aam Aadmi Party has accused the Delhi Police of taking its East Delhi MLA Kuldeep Kumar to an undisclosed location amid a protest by sanitation workers over the death of an on-duty worker.
AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj made the allegation on Tuesday, claiming that a team of police personnel in plain clothes arrived at Kumar’s residence early in the morning and took him away.
The Delhi Police had not immediately responded to the allegations.
AAP Claims MLA Was Taken Away Early Morning
Bharadwaj alleged that around 20 policemen in civilian clothes arrived at about 4 am and took Kuldeep Kumar away.
According to the AAP leader, the MLA had been supporting sanitation workers who are demanding financial assistance for the family of the deceased worker.
Bharadwaj claimed the protesters had also been seeking a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta over their demands.
He alleged that instead of meeting the protesting workers, the authorities took the MLA away.
Sanitation Workers Demand ₹1 Crore Compensation
The dispute has intensified following the death of sanitation worker Anil, who was reportedly killed while on duty in Kalyanpuri.
Hundreds of sanitation workers and auto-tipper drivers gathered outside Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in Delhi on Monday, demanding compensation of ₹1 crore for the deceased worker’s family.
The protesters also sought a permanent government job for one member of Anil’s family.
Protesters Refuse To Take Body For Last Rites
The protesting workers reportedly refused to allow Anil’s body to be taken from the hospital mortuary for the last rites.
They warned that auto-tippers could remain off Delhi’s roads until the government addressed their demands.
The agitation has now entered a more serious phase, with the handling of the deceased worker’s body becoming a major point of contention between the protesters and authorities.
AAP Alleges Pressure Over Cremation
Saurabh Bharadwaj also accused the Delhi Police of putting pressure on Anil’s family to proceed with the cremation.
He alleged that the authorities had brought the body from the hospital to the family’s residence and were attempting to move ahead with the last rites despite the protesters’ demands.
These allegations have not been independently confirmed, and there was no immediate response from Delhi Police.
Political Row Escalates
The incident has added another political confrontation between the AAP and the Delhi government, with the opposition party accusing the administration of ignoring sanitation workers’ demands.
The immediate focus remains on the whereabouts of MLA Kuldeep Kumar, the government’s response to the compensation demand and whether talks can resolve the protest over Anil’s death.
