New Delhi: The Delhi BJP on Thursday accused the Arvind Kejriwal government of “silencing and coercing” those trying to expose its corruption in the public domain. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said that Wednesday’s assault on sacked AAP minister Kapil Mishra in the Delhi Assembly and the firing on a whistleblower who had alleged a scam in the Public Works Department (PWD) had exposed the “criminal face” of the Kejriwal government.

On Wednesday evening, two unidentified people had opened fire at the car of Rahul Sharma who had alleged a PWD “scam” involving a relative of Mr Kejriwal in Greater Noida. He escaped unhurt.

“These two incidents have revealed a new face of Arvind Kejriwal and his government — this criminal face of Mr Kejriwal has saddened people who believed in him. Mr Kejriwal is fast coming out as a khalnayak (villain) and it looks he has developed a criminal knack,” said Mr Tiwari.

Demanding that the police provide security to both Mr Mishra and Mr Sharma, the Delhi BJP chief said that anyone exposing corruption in the Kejriwal government faced danger.

“Now, I also link the recent attack on my North Avenue residence with attacks on Mr Mishra and Mr Sharma, since I have been raising corruption of the Kejriwal government and bringing out new things,” he added.

Mr Tiwari also demanded the “sacking” of Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain, who is facing allegations of owning benami properties.

“Mr Jain has lost all moral right to hold the post of a minister. The way the chief minister is avoiding to take any action against him, it is getting clear that there is a nexus among the two,” he said.

Mr Tiwari also condemned the Kejriwal government for running away from it much hyped Janta Darbar and said the government has run away from the Janta Darbar as it is left with no face to go between the people.