Amidst a flurry of political maneuvers and legal battles, the planned meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi’s Tihar Jail has been postponed due to security concerns. The last-minute cancellation by the Tihar jail authorities has sparked a ripple effect, prompting the Delhi Police and Punjab Police to collaborate on devising a comprehensive security plan for the rescheduled meeting.
Initially scheduled for 1 pm on Wednesday, the meeting between Bhagwant Mann, Sanjay Singh, and Arvind Kejriwal was abruptly called off late Tuesday night. Tihar jail authorities cited security reasons for the cancellation and assured that a new meeting time would be communicated soon.
AAP had made prior arrangements for the meeting, with Bhagwant Mann expressing his desire to meet Kejriwal the previous week and formal communications being exchanged between the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the jail authorities. CMO had initially informed that Bhagwant Mann, along with four others, including Sanjay Singh and Arvind Kejriwal’s family — his wife and two children, would be permitted to meet the incarcerated Delhi Chief Minister in Tihar jail.
However, the sudden turn of events has necessitated a recalibration of plans. With Mann and Sanjay Singh unable to meet Kejriwal as intended, the focus has shifted to ensuring the security and logistical aspects of the rescheduled meeting. As part of this effort, the Delhi Police and Punjab Police are set to convene on Friday to outline a robust security blueprint for the encounter between the two political heavyweights.
The forthcoming security liaison meeting, to be held at the Tihar Prison Headquarters, will bring together key stakeholders including senior police officials from both Delhi and Punjab.
Delhi Prison Department has scheduled an advanced Security Liaison meeting, to be held on April 12, involving key stakeholders including the Additional Director General (Police) of Punjab, representatives from the Delhi Police, and officials from the Tihar Jail administration.
The agenda primarily revolves around formulating foolproof security arrangements and ensuring compliance with all procedural formalities mandated by the Delhi Prison Rules. The aim is to facilitate a smooth and secure meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.
On Tuesday, Kejriwal had a face-to-face meeting with his wife Sunita Kejriwal, and his personal secretary Bibhav Kumar in Tihar Jail, lasting half an hour. This was Kejriwal’s first in-person meeting with them since being placed in judicial custody on April 1.
Meanwhile, the political landscape continues to evolve with each passing day. A day before, Bhagwant Mann and Sanjay Singh had engaged in discussions with Punjab Ministers, candidates, and leaders outlining AAP’s strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections before their planned rendezvous with Kejriwal. However, with the meeting postponed, the party finds itself navigating through a maze of legal challenges and political confrontations.
