Kejriwal slams BJP over third attack in 35 days after liquid thrown at him

Arvind Kejriwal, former Chief Minister of Delhi and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), condemned the alleged attack on him during his padyatra in the Malviya Nagar area of South Delhi on Saturday. The incident occurred as Kejriwal was walking through the Greater Kailash constituency. According to Kejriwal, a man threw liquid at him, which he described as harmless, though he acknowledged that it could have been dangerous. The man responsible for the attack was identified as Ashok Jha and was detained by the police for questioning. Kejriwal confirmed that he was not injured during the incident, which was the third attack on him in the past 35 days.

In his response to the attack, Kejriwal criticized the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, for not addressing the deteriorating law and order situation in the national capital. Kejriwal specifically referenced a recent incident involving AAP MLA Naresh Balyan, who had filed a complaint about being extorted by gangsters. According to Kejriwal, Balyan had received extortion calls from gangster Kapil Sangwan and had sought help from the Delhi Police. Instead of taking action against the gangsters, Balyan was reportedly arrested by the police. Kejriwal accused the BJP of targeting his party's members rather than taking action against criminals.

Kejriwal further highlighted several other incidents in Delhi that he claimed illustrated the worsening security situation. These included a recent firing incident in Nangloi and the stabbing of a 64-year-old man. Kejriwal stated that citizens, including senior citizens, business owners, and women, are living in fear due to the rising violence. He mentioned that local shop owners in Tilak Nagar were also fearful after a firing incident in their area, and he intended to visit these areas to meet with them. The AAP leader also pointed out the issue of extortion calls made to businesses by criminals, claiming that those who refused to comply with demands faced violent repercussions.

The Delhi Police confirmed the details of the attack on Kejriwal but did not release further specifics. The police investigation is ongoing, with the accused, Ashok Jha, being questioned. The police have not provided any evidence suggesting a political motive behind the attack. Kejriwal’s padyatra in Malviya Nagar was part of a larger outreach campaign in the Greater Kailash area, which is considered a key constituency in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.

In response to Kejriwal’s allegations, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the claims, accusing Kejriwal of staging the attack for political purposes. BJP spokespersons, including Pradeep Bhandari and Shehzad Poonawalla, referred to the attack as a "drama" and suggested that Kejriwal had orchestrated the incident to gain sympathy ahead of the elections. Poonawalla also pointed out that similar attacks on Kejriwal had occurred during previous election cycles, raising questions about their timing. The BJP also criticized Kejriwal for using the law and order issue as a political tool.

Kejriwal’s comments also extended to his concerns about the general safety of Delhi’s residents. He stated that citizens were increasingly vulnerable to criminal activity, particularly extortion, and that businesses were being forced to pay for protection from gangsters. Kejriwal’s concerns about the security situation in Delhi have been consistent for several years, with the AAP regularly calling for increased police accountability and stronger measures to combat gang violence and organized crime. Despite his critiques of the BJP, Kejriwal reiterated that AAP would not form alliances with any party for the upcoming Delhi elections, maintaining the party's independent stance.