Army threatened to pull out tanks if Kejriwal stood ground

Did the Army play a role in ending Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s protest outside Rail Bhavan?

Sources informed rediff.com that the Army categorically conveyed to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union home ministry that it would be forced to withdraw the massive deployment of tanks and armoured vehicles from the Republic Day parade if the Aam Aadmi Party agitators were not removed from the protest site.

Every year, the area around Rail Bhavan serves as a huge parking area for the Army to

park its huge deployment.

In behind-the-scene deliberations, the Army contended that if the AAP agitation continued any longer than Tuesday night, there was a possibility of miscreants taking advantage and trying to sabotage the military equipment.

It also said that the continued agitation, which threatened the peaceful conduct of Republic Day parade, would not only demoralise the soldiers but also send a wrong signal to the armed forces.

Thankfully enough, the Delhi chief minister called off the agitation following an assurance from the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung "partially agreeing" to the AAP government's demand for action against five Delhi police officers for alleged dereliction of duty.