India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 3—Days after BJP MP Parvesh Verma called Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a “terrorist”, Union Minister and BJP election-in-charge Prakash Javadekar repeated his party MP’s comment at a press conference on Monday.
Javadekar, who is otherwise considered to be a serious politician, did not restrict himself to calling Kejriwal a “terrorist” but also added that “there is sufficient evidence to back it”.
Launching a scathing attack on Kejriwal, the union minister said, “Kejriwal is asking for proof of being a terrorist. “Kejriwal is making an innocent face and asking if he is a terrorist, you are a terrorist, there is plenty of proof for it. You yourself said you are an anarchist, there is not much of a difference between an anarchist and a terrorist”.
Javadekar’s comments evoked an angry reaction from AAP. Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh dared BJP to arrest Kejriwal if he was a terrorist.
“This is happening in the capital of our country… where the central government is based, the Election Commission is present. How can a central minister be permitted to use such language? If Arvind Kejriwal is a terrorist, I challenge the BJP to arrest him,” AAP MP Sanjay Singh said.
After Parvesh Verma used the term “terrorist” for Kejriwal on January 25 during an election rally of BJP, Kejriwal during a public meeting in Chandni Chowk, two days ago, reminded the people that the BJP had called him a “terrorist”.
“I am Delhi’s Chief Minister. While some people have voted for me, some had voted for the BJP and the Congress. I never discriminated and worked for everyone. All the people in Delhi are my family,” he said.
“Does that make me a terrorist? Now you have to decide if I am a terrorist or your son. If you feel I am a terrorist, then press lotus (BJP’s election symbol). If you feel I am your son, press broom (AAP’s election symbol) on February 8,” he said.
Kejriwal further said, “How have I become a terrorist? I’ve arranged for medicines… did so much for the needy. I’ve never thought of myself or my family… am ready to give my life for the nation”.
“I leave this up to Delhi to decide… am I their son, their brother or a terrorist,” Mr Kejriwal had said.
BJP has been trying to polarise the Delhi elections with its leaders using communal and highly polarising language. Election Commission had already barred Union Minister Anurag Thakur and MP Parvesh Verma from campaigning for a few after they used communal language in their election speeches.
Polling for assembly elections in Delhi are scheduled to take place on February 8 and counting on February 11. AAP currently has 67 seats in a House of 70. Several surveys have indicated that AAP is going to win again.
