AAP, BJP workers clash as EC sounds Poll bugle

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal’s fact-finding tour of Gujarat triggered BJP-AAP clashes in Delhi, Lucknow and other cities after the AAP leader was detained by Gujarat Police.
AAP leaders and workers stormed BJP headquarters in Delhi to protest the detention and clashed with BJP workers, leading to a lathicharge and use of water cannon by police. BJP President Rajnath Singh termed AAP’s behaviour undemocratic and anarchist: “I strongly condemn AAP’s violent protest at the gates of BJP office in Delhi. It shows AAP’s undemocratic and anarchist character...BJP does not believe in anarchy and violence. I appeal to all party karyakartas to stay calm and peaceful.”
Kejriwal was apologetic, appealing for peace and calling the violence unfortunate. “I found out that some volunteers got agitated and pelted stones when BJP first attacked them. I apologise on their behalf,” he told reporters in Gujarat.
Prashant Bhushan held a press conference in the Capital and blamed BJP supporters for the violence while insisting AAP workers were leading a peaceful protest against the detention of their leader. It all started in the morning when Kejriwal’s interaction with residents of Radhanpur, a small town in Gujarat’s Patan district, was interrupted by the police. They detained Kejriwal briefly for allegedly not having the required permission in the wake of the model code of conduct kicking in on Wednesday morning. He was released after only half-an-hour. Later, in the evening, Kejriwal was attacked on his way to Bhuj. His car was attacked by a few protestors, who threw stones. Though the former Delhi CM escaped unhurt, the windshield of his car was damaged.
A thousand kilometres away in the Capital, some 200 AAP supporters led by Rajmohan Gandhi, Ashutosh, Anand Kumar and Shazia Ilmi reached the BJP headquarters at around 5.30 pm. They shouted slogans against the saffron party and tried to enter the office. BJP workers present inside the premises retaliated, and soon the two groups started pelting stones at each other. Eyewitnesses said there were very few police personnel present at the spot and additional forces arrived after much delay.  Ashutosh led his party supporters in tearing down a hoarding at the entrance to the BJP office.
Police resorted to a lathicharge and used water cannon on AAP protestors to control the frenzy that lasted around 90 minutes.
Six BJP workers were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital while others were discharged after first aid. AAP supporters were also injured in the violence. BJP is likely to lodge a police complaint and will also approach the Election Commission on the issue.