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Ending half a day full of high drama, Arvind Kejriwal, the architect of protest marches across the capital, called off Sunday's protests, claiming that the objective of the “movement” had been achieved. Television reports said Kejriwal had returned home and he had asked India Against Corruption (IAC) activists and supporters to follow suit. IAC activists had, through the day, staged mass protests outside the Prime Minister’s Office, the Parliament, Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi’s and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari’s residence. Delhi Police detained over 20 activists, besides arresting and releasing Kejriwal twice during the day. The Delhi Police had earlier denied permission for the protest, as Parliament is in session and prohibitory orders are in place. It also said that no protest could be allowed in the high-security areas. They had also said that IAC had failed to control a protest that was held in New Delhi last month. Meanwhile, six metro stations in central Delhi , which were earlier announced to be closed due to security concerns over the protest, will now remain open throughout the day. Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, Race Course, Jor Bagh and Khan Market stations falling near and around the residences of Singh and Gadkari were to remain closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. Delhi Metro had taken the decision to close down the stations, five of which fall on the Gurgaon Line, after instructions from Delhi Police.

Kejriwal calls off protest, says objective achieved