BJP, Cong attack AAP over poster controversy

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party was on Saturday targeted by both Congress and BJP which accused it of indulging in "politics of hatred" to regain its lost ground in Delhi.

The attack on AAP by Congress and BJP came a day after AAP's Delhi unit secretary Dilip Pandey and four other party volunteers were arrested for allegedly instigating people by putting up posters with provocative messages.

"The arrest of AAP leaders showed that Arvind Kejriwal is trying to disturb communal harmony by putting up such posters. He has completely lost his political ground following which AAP is adopting such tactics," Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay told reporters here. The newly-appointed Delhi BJP president accused Kejriwal of making baseless allegations to remain in news.

"In order to keep himself in the news, Kejriwal is trying to spoil the Ganga-Jamuni culture and communal harmony. The proof of this fact is that Delhi Police has arrested his party leaders affixing hoardings, posters without any print line," he reporters. Rejecting AAP's allegations that its leaders were arrested under political pressure, he said that police have taken action on the basis of video clips and other proofs. Upadhyay said BJP may go to the Election Commission seeking "revocation of status of AAP as a national party".

Congress also slammed Aam Aadmi Party, alleging that Kejriwal has adopted a 'divide and rule' tactic to regain lost ground. "Hoardings episode showed what kind of bad ideas they have. AAP and BJP have joined hands. Congress strongly criticise AAP for pasting such posters in minority-dominated areas," DPCC chief Arvinder Singh said.

Another Congress leader Haroon Yusuf also alleged that BJP and AAP were trying to fool Delhiites. "Around 3,000 hoardings were put up in three minority-dominated areas. We demand a probe into it by NIA," Congress MLA Mohammad Asif said.