Opposition supports Arvind Kejriwal as AAP smells a ‘conspiracy’

While the BJP dismissed the allegations, by evening, leaders from across the country came out in Kejriwal’s support on social media.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Union government for the attack on Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow in Moti Nagar Saturday evening.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Union government for the attack on Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow in Moti Nagar Saturday evening. (PTI)

While the BJP dismissed the allegations, by evening, leaders from across the country came out in Kejriwal’s support on social media.

Later in the evening, the police issued a press statement, saying that the person who attacked Kejriwal during the roadshow “was a supporter of the AAP and used to help organise rallies and meetings”.

Denying the claim, the AAP accused the Delhi Police of making “political statements” adhering to the “orders” of the Union government.

Delhi’s deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia, tweeted in Hindi, “Do Modiji and Amit Shah want to get Kejriwal killed? The person whose confidence you could not bring down in five years, the person you could not defeat in elections... Is this how you want to get him out of the way, cowards?”

Reacting to the allegations, BJP leader and Union minister Vijay Goel tweeted in Hindi, “I condemn the attack on Arvind Kejriwal. But I also believe that it is wrong to blame Modi-Shah for everything. Such accusations affect the gravity of the situation and suggest that the incidents are politically motivated.”

BJP’s Delhi unit president Manoj Tiwari also released a video clip saying: “The BJP does not support any such activity. But we suspect the incident was scripted. We have always maintained that the BJP believes in a healthy political battle for the welfare of Delhi’s people.”

Other AAP leaders also reacted sharply to the attack. “The Delhi CM’s security is with the Modi government. Arvind Kejriwal’s life is under threat. And every time it happens, the police cries victim. What is the conspiracy behind it?” said the AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Singh.

Atishi, the AAP’s Lok Sabha candidate for East Delhi, tweeted: “Today’s attack on Arvind Kejriwal is an indicator of levels to which BJP can stoop [down to]! They did the same thing before 2015 Delhi elections. In 2015, AAP won 67/70 seats and these attacks by BJP will ensure that AAP gets 7/7 seats in Delhi!”

Reacting to the police’s statement that the accused was a supporter of the AAP national spokesperson, Saurabh Bharadwaj, said, “This is really shameful given the fact that the wife of the attacker had herself said that he was a Modi bhakt and he did not like anyone talking against Modi.” Bharadwaj was referring to a video clip.

HT, however, could not independently verify the claims made in the clip.

Bharadwaj further said, “This political statement of the police is itself proof that Delhi Police is doing all this on the orders of the Modi government.”