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Gandhigiri: Kejriwal answers BJP jeers with flowers

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal was clearly not prepared for the extended Holi season in the temple town. He was inked, ‘egged’ and made very uncomfortable on his arrival here by the obvious suspects – BJP workers.

Updated on: Mar 26, 2014, 01:19:07 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Varanasi
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AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal was clearly not prepared for the extended Holi season in the temple town. He was inked, ‘egged’ and made very uncomfortable on his arrival here by the obvious suspects – BJP workers.

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Kejriwal was heckled and followed by BJP workers right from the moment he reached the station at 8.10am. Later, at different points of his road show, he was shown black flags.

At some point, someone sprayed ink on the AAP leader. But restraint from the AAP workers and the presence of a large police contingent – comprising local cops, special police forces and anti-riot vehicles – prevented the situation from turning ugly.

Although Kejriwal and Sisodia wiped off the ink and the cavalcade moved ahead, AAP supporters retaliated with slogans like ‘Abhi to Sheila hari hai, ab Modi ki bari hai (After Delhi CM Sheila Dixit, it’s Modi’s turn to lose elections).”

All through the three-km-long road show, people greeted Kejriwal from their roof-tops. But just a few metres ahead of Chetganj police station, BJP workers once again waved black flags and jeered Kejriwal, who reacted by throwing flowers at them.

Most of the AAP members in the road show had come from the adjoining districts of Jaunpur and Machelisher. AAP leader Kumar Vishwas along with his supporters came from Amethi, where he is contesting against Congress’ Rahul Gandhi.

Kejriwal then went to Bhaisasur ghat to take a dip in the Ganga. He then reached the Kal Bhairav temple at Maidagin, with BJP workers following the cavalcade.

Finally, the cavalcade reached the Vishwanath temple, where main priest Srikant Mishra performed the Rudrabhishek ritual for Kejriwal for about an hour.

But as the AAP convener came out of the temple, some people from the mob waiting outside the temple hurled two eggs at him. One hit Kejriwal’s car and the other a bystander.

  • Pawan Dixit
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Pawan Dixit

    Pawan Dixit, Assistant Editor, brings over 20 years of frontline reporting experience to the newsroom. A specialist on Uttar Pradesh politics and governance, he has reported from the ground across the state’s most consequential stories. He cut his teeth in eastern UP, spending 15 years covering the region. Based in Varanasi, he reported the 2012 UP Assembly polls and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections that reshaped the state’s political map. Moving to Lucknow in 2016, he has since led coverage of the 2017 and 2022 UP Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. His reporting tracks the BJP’s strategy, opposition moves, and voter sentiment across all 75 districts. Pawan has been a constant presence in Ayodhya since 2016. He reported the entire arc of the Ram Mandir movement — from the legal fight to the Supreme Court verdict, through temple construction, to the inauguration. He continues to track every development at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. On the state beat, he covers the BJP, the Industrial Development Department, and handles key outstation political assignments. He also reports major cases from the district court, Lucknow bench of the High Court, and the State Information Commission. Along with this, he also reports on NGT's important decisions related to UP. Known for sharp sourcing and clear analysis, Pawan connects politics, policy, infrastructure and faith — the forces driving UP today. He has reported developments in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir movement since 2016. The Supreme Court's Ram Mandir verdict, temple construction and the its opening have been reported by him. He reports all developments in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir Trust. He covers state BJP, Industrial development department, outstation political assignments, reports special cases from district court, high court and state information commissionRead More