New Delhi: Politics heated up in the national capital after some graffiti threatening Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal were found scribbled inside Metro trains, with the AAP accusing the BJP of being behind these incidents and claimed that there was a danger to Mr Kejriwal's life. The BJP, however, dubbed it as an “act” by the AAP to divert attention from the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal. The Delhi police has, however, taken cognizance and initiated a probe.
Addressing a press conference, AAP leader Atishi said the BJP was rattled by the fact that it was going to lose all seven seats in Delhi, that is why it has been targeting Mr Kejriwal by “hatching different conspiracies”.
The AAP sought time from the Election Commission on the issue and has sent a request for a representation in an email.
“They got him arrested on March 21 and then when he was lodged inside Tihar Jail, they stopped his insulin for 15 days and we had to approach the court. After he came out, they used Swati Maliwal to target him but that conspiracy also did not pay off since the videos revealed the assault allegations were false.” she alleged. “Now there is a danger to his life,” Atishi added.
Atishi claimed that a man had scribbled graffiti inside three Metro stations -- Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk and Patel Nagar -- threatening Mr Kejriwal. “The images of the graffiti have also been uploaded on the social media. These stations are under CCTVs and security personnel are posted round-the-clock. Why are the police not acting on it? Where is the Cyber Cell? This shows that this is being orchestrated by the BJP,” she alleged.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva asked the police and EC to double the security of Mr Kejriwal, alleging that he and his party can orchestrate an attack on him to gain public sympathy ahead of the May 25 Lok Sabha polls in the city. Mr Sachdeva said the AAP was trying to divert attention from the Swati Maliwal assault case. “My only question to Kejriwal is when will he break his silence over the Maliwal assault incident in his house?” he said in a press conference.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh concurred with his party colleagues, saying: “The PMO and the BJP are planning a very big attack on Kejriwal. Ever since Kejriwal has come out of jail, they have been making repeated efforts to attack him.”
The Delhi police has, meanwhile, started a probe into the matter. According to a police officer, pictures of certain messages written inside Metro trains and stations were shared through an Instagram account ‘Ankit.Goel_91’. One of the graffiti scribbled inside a Metro train read: “Kejriwal
Dilli Chhor Dijiye. Please. Otherwise you will have to remember three slaps, which you planted (sic) before the election. Now the real and actual punch/slap will be there soon. Today's meeting at Jhandewalan… Ankit.Goel_91”
Another message read: “#CM Delhi leave us, we don’t need freebies anymore. #45 Crore on CM Awas.” A third and longer graffiti in another Metro train read: “Following are points you are advised to follow... Jal Board transparent audit and fix the responsibility of the person person/leaders concerned, your final say on liquor policy and the kickback received by your leaders or party as a whole and Mr Raghav Chaddha actual eye treatment in AIIMS or Safdarjung or any Indian hospital of your choice. There are the final expectations from the #AAP.”
Similar messages were found written at at least three metro stations -- Patel Nagar, Ramesh Nagar, and Rajiv Chowk, another officer said, adding the police has taken cognisance of the vandalism and started a probe. A case under proper sections will be registered at the concerned Metro police station, the officer added.
