40 injured as BJP activists clash with police

NEW DELHI - About 40 people, including journalists and policemen, were injured Thursday when activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed with police near Jantar Mantar in central Delhi, police said.

The activists were protesting against alleged corruption in Delhi government and were demanding the dismissal of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, an official said.

Police had to lob tear gas shells and use water cannons to disperse the crowd as it pelted stones and damaged a police van and a Delhi Transport Corporation bus. The activists were trying to break the security cordon to reach Parliament House, the official said.

As a result, 28 activists, two photo-journalists and ten policemen, were injured and rushed to the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, the official added.

However, Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta claimed that more than 200 party workers were injured in the clashes.

Gupta further said that it was at the initiative of his party that the Lokayukta of Delhi Thursday recommended the removal of Delhi PWD minister Raj Kumar Chauhan.

“He has caused tax evasion of crores of rupees by conniving with a leading resort,” Gupta said.