AAP: BJP ‘goons’ tried to attack Arvind Kejriwal; BJP denies | India News

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party alleged that BJP “goons” tried to attack AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday evening during his padyatra in west Delhi’s Vikaspuri. BJP hit back, saying Kejriwal had not been attacked and it was the anger of residents building up as elections near.
Delhi Police said they had not received any complaint and no video of the alleged incident had surfaced yet.
“Knowing they can’t defeat Arvind Kejriwal in elections, BJP resorts to dirty tactics by threatening his life,” chief minister Atishi said. “First, BJP tried to harm him by withholding insulin in jail by arresting him in a fake case, and now, by launching a deadly assault.” Kejriwal enjoys Z-security cover. Other AAP functionaries, including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Saurabh Bharadwaj echoed the charges. A senior AAP functionary alleged that several BJP workers raised slogans against Kejriwal, tried to penetrate his security cover, and attacked him.
Rubbishing AAP’s allegations, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said residents of Vikaspuri had turned up at the padyatra to complain about the supply of dirty water in the area, which was being projected by AAP functionaries as an attack on him.
“When people complained of dirty water, Kejriwal got offended. After living in a palatial bungalow, his habit of walking in the streets has gone, and when people ask questions, AAP leaders are trying to project it as an attack,” he said. “You have looted the people of Delhi in the name of electricity, water, and buses.”
South Delhi MP from BJP Kamaljeet Sehrawat said frustrated by the city’s deteriorating condition and corruption of AAP MLAs and councillors, Delhi residents are now taking to the streets to protest against Kejriwal. “This week, we even saw the MLAs of Matiala and Sangam Vihar being beaten by the public. Kejriwal should think about why this is happening,” she said.
Kejriwal has faced attacks during campaigning in the past — in 2019, he was slapped by a man during a roadshow in Moti Nagar.
AAP functionaries are currently undertaking padyatras in different assembly segments in the city in the run-up to the February 2025 polls. Former deputy CM Sisodia said BJP wants to eliminate Kejriwal by any means possible. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, “BJP must answer why they hate Arvind Kejriwal so much that they’re willing to attack him.”
Bharadwaj said it was a “cowardly” attempt by BJP. “It was done because Kejriwal is going among the masses and is getting their love and affection. We want to make it clear that if Kejriwal faces any danger to his life or any harm is done to him, only BJP will be responsible for it,” he alleged.