AAP alleges Sisodia being kept with 'dangerous' criminals in Tihar Jail, authorities deny charge
New Delhi, Mar 8: The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday expressed concerns over former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's "safety" inside the jail and alleged that he is being kept with other criminals, a charge denied by the prison authorities.
AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that Manish Sisodia is being kept with other criminals in the jail and has been refused "vipassana" cell.
He claimed that despite approval from the court, Sisodia has not been provided the "vipassana" cell.
"There was a request for Manish Sisodia to be kept in the vipasana cell of the jail and it was approved by the court. Despite court's approval, Sisodia has been kept with other criminals in jail number 1. The Centre must answer why are they doing this," Bharadwaj said.
Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh lashed out at the BJP and the Centre and alleged that they have been "misusing" the central agencies like the CBI and the ED.
"BJP and the Centre are full of hatred and they have been misusing the central agencies. Every other day there is news of CBI and ED raids on the opposition leaders. They (BJP) are least bothered about education, health, electricity, water and overall progress of the country," Singh alleged.
He further alleged that Sisodia has been kept with "dangerous" criminals in the jail and that the party leaders have been "worried about his safety."
"Manish Sisodia has been kept with dangerous criminals inside the jail and we are worried that his life might be at risk there," he alleged.
Senior AAP leader Dilip Pandey claimed that court orders have been "defied" and Manish Sisodia has been kept with criminals with "dangerous records" inside the Tihar jail.
"First, Manish Sisodia was mentally tortured by the central agencies and then he has been kept in Tihar's jail number 1 with criminals with dangerous records. He is also being pressurised to sign the papers where false charges have been framed against him," he alleged.
Rejecting the Aam Aadmi Party's allegations as "unfounded", the Delhi Prison authorities on Wednesday said Sisodia has been lodged in a ward of Central Jail No. 1 of Tihar where there are a minimum number of inmates and no gangsters.
In a statement, the prison authorities said, "Manish Sisodia has been assigned to a segregated ward keeping his security in mind. The ward...has minimum number of inmates who are not gangsters and are maintaining good conduct inside the jail."
According to jail officials, a separate cell makes it possible for him to meditate or do such other activities without any disturbance.
"All the arrangements, as per jail rules, are in place to ensure his safety and security. Any aspersions cast about his lodgings is unfounded," an official added.
Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in the excise policy scam case. He is currently in judicial custody.
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Railways created world record in derailments: Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata, Sep 24: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday mocked the Indian Railways, asserting that it has created a “world record” in derailments.
Banerjee’s comments came hours after a few wagons of an empty goods train jumped tracks in the state’s Jalpaiguri district.
"What is happening with the Railways? Even today, there is the news of derailment. The Railways has created a world record in derailments. But, nobody says anything?" she told reporters after an administrative review meeting in Birbhum.
"People's safety and security is in danger, and they are scared of travelling in trains. Where is the railway minister? Only asking for votes during elections will not help, you have to be by the side of people when they are in danger," Banerjee said.
Five wagons of an empty goods train derailed at New Maynaguri railway station in Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday morning.
No injuries were reported in the incident that occurred around 6.20 am, officials said.
Banerjee, who had served as railway minister twice, claimed that she had run the department smoothly and allocated several projects for West Bengal.
"As the railway minister, I had sanctioned projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore for Bengal," the CM said.
The Railways, in a recent report, had mentioned there were 18 attempts to derail trains across the country since August.
