Ex-Aam Aadmi Party leader Shazia Ilmi turns up at BJP event

New Delhi: Shazia Ilmi, who five months ago quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Thursday made a surprise appearance at an event organised by Delhi BJP to launch Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Clean India' campaign.

"As a common citizen, I have come here to participate in BJP's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. If a party, with which you have a problem in the past, is doing good work then we should appreciate it. People should also support it. This campaign is a great mission and I am happy to be part of it" Ms Illmi said.

Ms Ilmi, who is among nine personalities roped in by Delhi BJP for the campaign, praised the Modi government for the initiative calling it a "great mission" and said she was happy to be part of it.

Asked whether she was considering joining BJP, she said she has not decided about it.

Ms Ilmi had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election from Ghaziabad on an AAP ticket and quit the party in May citing lack of internal democracy.

Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Delhi BJP Chief Satish Upadhyay were among the leaders present on the occasion.

"Cleaning is not just the duty of sanitation workers. It is also our responsibility to clean our country, states and streets. The time has come to create people's movement in this regard," Ms Illmi said.

She said her participation in the event should not be seen as her inclination to BJP.

"The Delhi University Vice Chancellor has also come. He doesn't belong to any political party. My visit should not be connected to any political angle. Cleaning our areas is our responsibility and when I was asked for this, I agreed to become part of BJP's campaign," she added.

Asked if she would also join AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal if he invites her for her participation in "his campaign", she said, "If he really invites me, I will definitely join him."