AAP playing victim card, probe needed, says BJP

New Delhi: BJP legislators in the national capital on Tuesday sought a detailed probe into the chilli powder attack on chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to unearth a “conspiracy” by the AAP, which, according to them, was playing the victim card.

The BJP MLAs also met Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik and demanded the arrest of an aide of Mr Kejriwal, who, they alleged, facilitated the entry of the man who threw chilli powder on the chief minister at the secretariat here.

“It is surprising that the chief minister’s office (CMO) and AAP have not filed a complaint. Do the CMO and AAP have nothing to do with the safety and security of the chief minister,” said Vijender Gupta, the Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly.

Demanding the arrest of the chief minister’s aide, Mr Gupta said the latter had allegedly facilitated the entry of accused Anil Sharma into the Secretariat.

“The high voltage drama by AAP in Delhi smells (like) a conspiracy to play victim card over the issue,” Mr Gupta added.

He alleged that there were discrepancies in the allegations of the Delhi government, Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Moreover, the BJP was being targeted over the issue, although police interrogation of Sharma revealed that he had no affiliation with the (BJP) party, he said.

“It is requested that the matter may be taken up on top priority to clean the foul air created because of the propaganda of Delhi government and AAP,” Mr Gupta said in a memorandum submitted to Mr Patnaik. Mr Gupta was accompanied by his party MLAs O.P. Sharma and Jagdish Pradhan during the meeting with the police commissioner.

Delhi police has registered a case into the attack on the chief minister with its crime branch probing the matter.

The AAP had called a special session of the Delhi Assembly, which ended on Tuesday, to discuss the recent attack on the chief minister and other issues.

A resolution was passed by the House, dominated by the AAP, seeking the city government’s control over Delhi police.