BJP behind attack on me during rally, alleges Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged that BJP was responsible for the attack on him during a roadshow and claimed he was targeted because he had been lately questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “relationship” with Pakistan.

The AAP supremo, at a press conference held at the party headquarters, said this was not just an attack on him but an assault on the people of Delhi and the mandate they had given. BJP rubbished the claim as Mr Kejriwal’s “propaganda.”

Mr Kejriwal said: “This is the ninth attack on me and fifth one since I took charge as the chief minister of Delhi. For any attack on me in future, BJP will be responsible.”

“They (BJP) do not want the common man to enter politics, so we are being targeted. Our only fault is that we have tried to bring development in education, health, and other sectors in Delhi. They are insecure that people in other states might start questioning the party on such real issues,” he said.

“For this attack on me, BJP and Prime Minister Modi are responsible. The response from the police after the incident was scripted. The police is not responsible for this. It was merely following the ‘script’ given by the ruling party,” he alleged.

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj, who was present during the press conference, said: “We have investigated from our end and he is not from our party as claimed by the police.”

Hitting out at the Centre, Mr Kejriwal alleged that “signs of a dictator” can be seen in such circumstances “but we will not be cowed down by it and our voices shall not be silenced.”

Rejecting the chief minister’s allegations, senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the man who had attacked Mr Kejriwal had himself said that he was an AAP worker.  Former Delhi chief minister and Congress’ candidate from Northeast Delhi, Sheila Dixit, condemned the attack and said such attacks should not happen.”

Suresh Chauhan, the person who had attempted to assault Mr Kejriwal has been booked in a case u/s 323/153 IPC in PS Motinagar. He has been arrested in the case as well as under preventive sections and has been remanded to two days of judicial custody, said a senior police official. 

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