Udupi, December 27: The security arrangements made during the visit of President Ramanath Kovind to Udupi on Thursday have literally thrown the normal life out of gear. People openly expressed their unhappiness about the forced bandh-like situation in the temple town.

For just 45 minutes programme of the President, the people had to suffer for almost a whole day. From Adi Udupi to Mutt through Karavali Junction on Manipal road, all vehicular movement was restricted while coming and going. The vehicular movement was also restricted on circuit house road. All shops and business establishments in the vicinity of the mutt were forcefully closed and the entry of devotees into the mutt was also prohibited till afternoon. As there was no vehicular movement on major roads in the city, the adjacent roads also wore deserted look due to which there was an undeclared bandh in the city and it has irked the people.

Those who have come to Udupi for emergency works, those who have marriages and other programmes, and patients suffered a lot due to security measures. People have also expressed their resentment against this situation in the social media.



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New Delhi (PTI): AAP leader Atishi on Saturday claimed that party MP Swati Maliwal, who has accused Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar of assaulting her, is facing arrest in an illegal recruitment case and she was "blackmailed" by the BJP to become part of the "conspiracy" against the Chief Minister.

Talking to PTI-Video, Atishi, who is also a cabinet minister in the Delhi government, alleged that Maliwal went to the chief minister's official residence on Monday without an appointment.

"Why did she barge inside? Why did she land up at the chief minister's residence without an appointment? Arvind Kejriwal was busy that day and did not meet her. If he had met her that day, the allegations levelled against Bibhav Kumar could have been levelled against him," Atishi said.

She said Maliwal was made the face of this "conspiracy" by the BJP.

"The BJP has a pattern. First they file cases and then threaten to send leaders to jail. Swati Maliwal is facing charges in an illegal recruitment case registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch. An FIR has been registered in the case and it is at a stage where she could be arrested.

"The BJP blackmailed Maliwal and made her the face of this conspiracy," the AAP leader charged.

AAP MP Swati Maliwal has alleged that Kumar assaulted her at Kejriwal's official residence on Monday, slapping and kicking her in the chest and abdomen, charges rejected as "baseless" by the party.

The Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR in connection with the alleged assault on Maliwal and named Kumar as an accused.

Atishi said if the Delhi Police is impartial, it should also register an FIR on Kumar's complaint against Maliwal.

"Will the Delhi Police register a case of trespassing, breach of security and obstructing a government servant from discharging his duty against her? If the Delhi Police is impartial, it should register an FIR on Bibhav's complaint. Will it act on his complaint the same way it did on Maliwal's complaint?" she asked.

"Her call records should be looked into and analysed (to see) which BJP leaders she was in touch with," she said.

As part of its probe into the incident, the Delhi Police on Friday took Maliwal to Kejriwal's residence to recreate the crime scene. Her statement was also recorded before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court.