A half-kilometre bridge over the Yamuna here which took close to 15 years and Rs 1,500 crore to come up was finally opened on Sunday, but not without a sideshow that saw senior politicians sparring over who should take the credit.
At the inaugural event of North East Delhi's Signature Bridge, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party almost came to blows as
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari tried to climb up the dais with AAP leaders and threw a punch in the air during a scuffle with police.
Tiwari and his supporters had arrived at the venue in protest that he was not invited to the event despite being a parliamentarian from the area who had expended efforts to complete the bridge. The BJP leader had earlier tweeted his displeasure over not being invited, saying he'd be present at the bridge to "welcome" Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was to inaugurate it.
A video showing Tiwari scuffling with the policemen who had encircled him and almost slapping one of them instantly went viral on social media. Another clip shows AAP leader Amanatullah Khan manhandling Tiwari as he tried to climb the dais alongside AAP leaders. Minutes later, there was a full-fledged clash.
After the tussle, Tiwari told the media: "I visited the event to congratulate Kejriwal for stealing the show and taking credit for the bridge. I just wanted to give him a bouquet for the work he has not done. It was I who restarted its construction, which had been halted for years. But his party workers behaved rudely with me and thrashed me."
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were not present during the fracas. The Chief Minister later tweeted a request to Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal, to take charge of the situation.
"Unprecedented. Chaos by BJP at Signature Bridge inauguration site. Its a Del govt prog. Police mute spectator. Can LG, being head of Del police, ensure peace and order at Signature bridge inauguration site?"
After Delhi police officials escorted Tiwari out of the venue, he said: "I am a Member of Parliament from this area. I got the work for this bridge restarted and this is how Kejriwal is treating me. I was invited to the event. So what is the problem? Am I a criminal? Why have the police surrounded me? The AAP and police have misbehaved with me."
The bridge will be thrown open for public on Monday.
