Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has asked why Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for its silence over serious allegations against its convenor Arwind Kejriwal of taking funds from foreign based terrorists.
Sachdeva has questioned Kejriwal and his party’s silence on dialogues between him and individuals associated with terrorist organisations, as well as the recent emergence of a video featuring US based Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on social media in which he levelled serious allegations against Kejriwal.
In the video purportedly issued on Sunday, Pannun alleged Kejriwal had misled the overseas Sikhs and collected almost $16.70 million (nearly Rs 133 crore) from them for his party promising to release Sikh extremist Davinderpal Singh Bhullar from jail within “five hours of coming to power”.
A dual US-Canadian citizen, Pannun heads the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in America and is wanted in more than a dozen criminal and terror cases in India.
In the video message Pannun is seen standing before a large TV screen that is playing out news images and videos of Kejriwal and Mann. Showing a picture of Kejriwal addressing Sikhs in the US, Pannun claimed that in 2014 when the AAP leader was out of power, he held a meeting and promised to release Sikh extremist Davinderpal Singh Bhullar from jail within “five hours of coming to power”. Bhullar is serving a life sentence in the Tihar jail following conviction in the 1993 Delhi bomb blast.
Besides, Sachdeva has posed several other questions targeting Kejriwal’s leadership and the ethical integrity of the AAP administration. Additionally question were also raised on inquiries regarding a letter Atishi claimed to have received from Kejriwal, the feasibility and morality of running a government from jail, and the reasons behind the resignation of two ministers, Satyendra Jain and Manish Sisodia.
The BJP’s scrutiny of Kejriwal’s governance extends to his party members’ actions, including MP Raghav Chadha’s meeting with MP Preet Kaur Gill in London.
The BJP’s barrage of questions reflects the escalating tensions in Delhi’s political landscape, with both parties vying for dominance and seeking to capitalize on perceived vulnerabilities in each other’s leadership.
In response to Arvind Kejriwal’s recent statements, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari expressed his concerns to the media, highlighting the distress among Delhi residents. Tiwari accused Kejriwal of plundering the city, alleging that every street echoes with tales of loot, from the salary of Delhi Transport Corporation employees to the earnings of traders and even the ration meant for the poor.
Tiwari also questioned the authenticity of Kejriwal’s leadership, suggesting that the current turmoil may have been orchestrated before Kejriwal’s confinement. He pointed out that, despite being in jail, Kejriwal appears to be attuned to Delhi’s woes, raising doubts about his commitment to the state’s welfare.
Former Delhi BJP chief, Tiwari further criticised Kejriwal’s aspirations to appoint his wife as the Chief Minister, portraying it as a political ploy. Referring to Atishi’s role in delivering Kejriwal’s messages, Tiwari emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in Kejriwal’s governance. He questioned the legitimacy of Kejriwal’s claims of a judicial conspiracy, citing previous legal proceedings where Kejriwal’s petitions were dismissed and Manish Sisodia’s bail was rejected. Tiwari urged Kejriwal to address these issues and uphold the principles of democratic governance.