Poll call: Delhi CM Atishi and her Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann addressing a press meet in New Delhi on Friday. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
A day after Punjab Police personnel deployed in the security of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal were withdrawn, AAP on Friday alleged a “huge conspiracy” by the BJP and Delhi Police to kill Mr. Kejriwal and continued to target them over the breach of his security.
AAP on Thursday had alleged that the party chief’s car was attacked for a second time in a week by BJP workers in the presence of police in south-west Delhi.
Hitting back, senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Friday asked why the former Delhi Chief Minister is getting access to security from Punjab and pointed out the “contradiction” in providing him Z-plus security in the State, where he does not hold any official position.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and her Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann jointly wrote a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner urging him to reinstate Punjab Police in Mr. Kejriwal’s security detail and review his security arrangements as “guardian of free and fair elections”.
“By leaving his security solely in the hands of a BJP-controlled police force, his life has been recklessly endangered,” the letter read.
It stated that after repeated attacks and “blatant inaction” of Delhi Police, the withdrawal of Punjab Police from Mr. Kejriwal’s security detail poses “not just a threat to his life but a direct attack on democracy itself”. it said.
‘Help restore order’
Addressing a press conference, Mr. Kejriwal commented on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s statement on Thursday highlighting Delhi’s law and order situation and urged him to step in and guide Union Home Minister Amit Shah in restoring law and order in the Capital.
“Yesterday, Yogi Adityanath pointed out that the law and order in Delhi has completely deteriorated. I agree with him 100%, and so do the people of Delhi. If Yogi Adityanath has indeed improved the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, then I request him to sit with Amit Shah and explain to him how law and order can be improved,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
The AAP national convener also condemned the widespread “distribution of money” by political parties to influence voters, describing it as a “direct assault on democracy”.
“This money they are distributing was earned by looting the people of this country. Take everything they distribute, but do not sell your vote. Your vote is invaluable,” he said.
‘Don’t press wrong button’
Later in the day, addressing an election rally in Najafgarh, Mr. Kejriwal stuck to the message of “galat button mat dabana (Don’t press the wrong button on polling day)”.
“If you press the wrong button, Delhi will again face power cuts of 6–8 hours. If you press the lotus button (BJP’s symbol), as soon as you reach home, you’ll find the electricity gone. But if you press the right button, the electricity will continue 24 hours a day,” he said.
Addressing another rally in Dwarka, campaigning for AAP candidate Vinay Mishra, Mr. Kejriwal alleged that BJP leaders were hurling abuses at Purvanchalis and calling them Bangladeshis and Rohingya.
“Is baar jab button dabana jao, aisa button dabana, current upar tak jaaye inko (When you go to vote this, press the button (jhaadu) so that current will hit the top leadership of the BJP),” he said.
During 2020 Delhi Assembly election, senior BJP leader Amit Shah had said “press the button with such anger that current is felt at Shaheen Bagh”.
Published – January 25, 2025 02:02 am IST
