New Delhi:
The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress on Wednesday found themselves on the same page as they attacked Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party ahead of next month’s assembly elections.
The joint spat between the two targets police in AAP-ruled Punjab, who allegedly campaigned for Arvind Kejriwal’s party, and Delhi ahead of Sunday’s Republic Day celebrations and February public holidays. There were “thousands of vehicles (registered in neighboring states)”. 5 elections.
Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led the AAP counterattack, each posting strongly worded posts on X. Mr Kejriwal accused the BJP of “insulting the martyrdom of hundreds of thousands of Punjabis in Delhi and their ancestors”. He made countless sacrifices for India. ”
BJP, Congress vs AAP?
Parvesh Verma of the BJP has started the political ball rolling.
On Tuesday, Mr Verma, who is facing Mr Verma and Mr Kejriwal in a high-profile three-way battle for a seat in the New Delhi Assembly, which Mr Kejriwal has held since 2013, said: There are as many as 1,000 vehicles moving (in the vicinity),” hinting at the gloomy atmosphere. ) Here (New Delhi constituency),” he continued, “Who is in that vehicle? Preparations for Republic Day are underway…those people may pose a security threat.”
He said the vehicles were transporting celebrities such as Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his cabinet colleagues to the New Delhi area for Mr Kejriwal’s election campaign, and that the people in the cars were also carrying alcohol and money. They claimed that the distribution was illegally influencing voters.
He also claimed that a “Punjab government official” was caught installing Chinese-made surveillance cameras near India Gate, a heavily guarded area in central Delhi.
#Watch | #DelhiElections | Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for New Delhi Assembly constituency, Parvesh Verma, said, “…I have filed a complaint with the Election Commission and have also written a complaint to the Delhi Police. Thousands of cars have been plying in Punjab in the past week.” … pic.twitter.com/uFRGzRnWs4
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2025
“I have lodged a complaint with the Election Commission and also written to the Delhi Police…Last week, thousands of cars from Punjab with ‘Government of Punjab’ stickers were stolen from the New Delhi Assembly. “He’s walking around the chamber, handing out alcohol and money…” he said furiously.
Mr. Verma also filed a Rs 100-crore defamation suit against Mr. Kejriwal and Mr. Mann.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit then spoke out and accused Punjab police of campaigning for AAP candidates in the city and claimed proof. “I have a photo…” he told news agency ANI.
“We can bring party workers from Punjab and other places, but we cannot have police officers or officials from any state campaign for us. This is a very serious issue,” Dikshit added. .
He called on the Election Commission to take note of his complaints.
AAP’s fierce response
The double-barreled attack prompted a furious response from the AAP, with senior leaders accusing Mr Verma of disrespecting the people of Punjab by implying they were a “security threat”.
“Delhi was built by Punjabis. By calling Punjabis a national threat, the Bharatiya Janata Party has insulted hundreds of thousands of Punjabis in Delhi and should apologize…” Kejriwal Raising his voice, Mann called the Bharatiya Janata Party’s attack “very dangerous, alarming and an insult to Punjabis.”
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भाजपा के… https://t.co/87IXSekhDs— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 22, 2025
“They are putting Punjabi number plates on their cars and asking why we are in Delhi. They are talking as if Punjab is a threat to national security. Delhi is the capital of the country. People come here from every state. There are cars with every license plate.” State prices here…no limits. ”
#Watch | Delhi | AAP national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said, “Pravesh Verma called the people of Punjab a threat to the country…The people of Punjab have made countless sacrifices for the country. The Bharatiya Janata Party has resorted to divisive politics again…The Bharatiya Janata Party has shut down again.” 160… pic.twitter.com/S1xkUFiVst
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2025
“Parvesh Verma called the people of Punjab a ‘threat’…The BJP has resorted to divisive politics again…” AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar told ANI. Her colleague Malvinder Singh Khan said: “Parvesh Verma insulted (and) defamed Punjabis…and tried to call them ‘terrorists’.”
Delhi vs Punjab Police?
The altercation followed an exchange of letters between Delhi Police and Punjab Police.
Delhi Police has sought information on the movement of AAP leaders from Punjab when they came to the national capital, including VIPs sharing route details and the number of Punjab Police personnel on duty in the city. , said the required procedures were not followed. .
The Punjab Police has issued instructions to ministers in the state asking them to follow the guidelines laid down by the Election Commission and provide details to the Delhi Police.
delhi assembly elections
Delhi will vote on a new government on February 5th. Voting for the 70 City Council seats will take place all at once, with results announced three days later.
AAP won a landslide victory in the 2020 elections, winning 62 seats. The BJP picked up the remaining eight and the Congress was defeated.
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