BJP: AAP govt like urban Naxals'

New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday accused the AAP government of acting as “urban Naxalites” after a delegation led by it was allegedly heckled at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. Challenging Mr Kejriwal for an open debate at the historic Ramlila Maidan over the ongoing sealing drive, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari told this newspaper that whatever has happened at Mr Kejriwal’s residence is a ‘terrorist act’ not a ‘political development’.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police said on Tuesday that they have registered a case following a complaint by the BJP’s city unit. A Delhi BJP delegation comprising Mr Tiwari, party Lok Sabha members and MLAs from the national capital went to Mr Kejriwal’s residence to discuss the issue of ongoing sealing drive on the direction of Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee. But the meeting soon ended in chaos, with Delhi BJP general secretary Ravinder Gupta filing a police complaint against some AAP MLAs.

Mr Tiwari and other BJP leaders walked out of the meeting alleging ‘misbehaviour’ by AAP MLAs, presence of bouncers and ‘anti-social elements’. Mr Tiwari alleged that woman mayors of BJP-ruled North and East Delhi Municipal Corporation, Preety Agarwal and Neema Bhagat respectively, were also attacked at the chief minister’s residence.  

“This incident makes it clear that this government is not serious about the issues like sealing faced by the people of Delhi. They are in the role of urban Naxalites. What happened at Mr Kejriwal’s residence is a ‘terrorist act’, not a political development,” said Mr Tiwari.

The BJP leaders also showed a video alleging that Mr Kejriwal provoked his men to ‘catch’ members of the BJP delegation who were walking out of the meeting.

“We were around 17 people while Mr Kejriwal was sitting there with around 170 men, including AAP MLAs. There were also anti-social elements and bouncers who attacked me, our women mayors, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and other members of the delegation,” Mr Tiwari added.      

Mr Vijender Gupta alleged that he was assaulted by some AAP MLAs and others at the chief minister’s residence. He later underwent a medical examination at Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital.

“Today is the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Mr Kejriwal paid tributes to Mahatma with an attack on Opposition leaders,” added Mr Vijender Gupta.

A complaint filed by Delhi BJP general secretary Mr Gupta with Civil Lines police station named AAP MLAs Jarnail Singh, Akhilesh Tripathi, Rajesh Rishi and Jitender Tomar.

According to Mr Tiwari, the chief minister welcomed the delegation with a bouquet but later got them thrashed. “When I was speaking, AAP MLA Jitender Tomar shouted me down. I was insulted in the presence of the chief minister but I still continued. But soon, we felt it was better to leave as they were in a dangerous mood,” said the BJP president.