Bharatiya Janata Party leader Anurag Thakur on Friday criticised Aam Aadmi Party and its supremo Arvind Kejriwal, ahead of the upcoming elections in Delhi. Thakur claimed that the AAP leader would suffer a comprehensive defeat and argued that the public of Delhi are unhappy with how AAP has treated pollution, the quality of water and Yamuna River.
Thakur further accused the AAP of neglecting critical issues like clean drinking water, pollution and road maintenance. He said, “Arvind Kejriwal is going to get ‘stumped’ and ‘clean bowled’ as the people of Delhi are demanding clean water, air and roads. This is why the AAPda (AAP) and Arvind Kejriwal will be swept clean from Delhi.”
The BJP leader also labeled AAP as “anti-women” party, citing an incident involving party MP Swati Maliwal. He claimed that Maliwal was summoned to Kejriwal’s residence, where she was allegedly assaulted. Thakur continued to accuse the party of mistreating women, suggesting that their actions toward women in Delhi were disrespectful.
Thakur slammed Kejriwal for his failure to fulfill his promises made with women in Delhi and Punjab. He pointed out that AAP promised Rs 1000 to the women of these 2 states, a promise never to be fulfilled. He also spoke of the difficulties women faced during Chhath Puja when they had to conduct their rituals in the highly polluted Yamuna River.
He further questioned Kejriwal’s security arrangements when he pointed out the contradiction in providing Kejriwal Z+ security in Punjab when he did not hold any official position there.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi responded to the accusations and claimed that a conspiracy was being plotted to harm Arvind Kejriwal, involving BJP workers who allegedly attacked him during one of his campaign rallies. Atishi accused the Delhi Police, which she claimed operates under the BJP’s influence, of being complicit in these attacks.
Atishi added that the AAP had conducted a separate inquiry and found that many of the attackers were BJP workers. She further questioned the Delhi Police for not taking action against those responsible. The Punjab Police had recently withdrawn Kejriwal’s security when the Election Commission of India stepped in, and now the Delhi Police has followed suit, which has caused further friction between the parties.
As the Delhi Assembly elections draw near, on February 5, with results to be counted on February 8, the political environment is still hot. AAP is aiming to be in a dominant position as it had done previously in 2015 and 2020 polls when it won convincingly.
(With inputs from ANI)