The Aam Aadmi Party which has been conducting nationwide protests against the Centre over the arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has alleged that 80 percent of its leaders were illegally detained by the Delhi Police since Sunday, and questioned whether anyone can be kept in detention for more than 24 hours.

Addressing a press conference, AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "Since yesterday, the Aam Aadmi Party has been repeatedly saying that not only has Manish Sisodia ji been arrested, but almost 80 percent of the leadership of the party has been arrested by police. When asked, the central government is saying that they have only been detained,” he said.

"I want to know whether the detention is of one hour, two hours or three hours. Now, it will be 24 hours, can police detain such big leaders for 24 hours? There is no such provision in the law," he said.

Speaking against Sisodia's arrest, AAP MLA and former Deputy Speaker at Delhi Legislative Assembly, Bandana Kumari said, "Unfortunate for Delhi that an education minister praised world over has been targeted Sisodia was cooperating since the probe was launched last year, always appeared for questioning. Despite raids at Sisodia's residence, ancestral house and office, no incriminating material was found. Delhi stands to lose a lot with this politically motivated arrest as the assembly's Budget session is on, Sisodia holds many portfolios. Delhi Liquor policy was brought in transparently and with due process."

Several leaders, party workers in different states took to streets and chanted slogans against the Modi government since Sisodia's arrest. Amid tight security, protests are being staged in Chandigarh, Delhi, Bhopal, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Patna, Nagpur among other cities.

Also Read: Manish Sisodia sent to CBI custody till March 4 in Delhi excise policy case

The Delhi police on Monday also detained several AAP leaders and workers after they clashed with security personnel during a protest march from the party office to BJP headquarters in Central Delhi.

In Uttar Pradesh, the AAP workers and leaders protested against Sisodia's arrest chanting slogans and raising placards.

Adani के नौकर Modi द्वारा फ़र्ज़ी केस में @msisodia की गिरफ़्तारी के ख़िलाफ़ @AAPUttarPradesh द्वारा BJP के ख़िलाफ़ ज़बरदस्त प्रदर्शन