Tensions escalate between BJP, AAP in national capital

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Dinesh Mohania was denied bail on Monday and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days for alleged molestation, a case that AAP Chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has termed as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bid to “impose Emergency” in the Capital.

Simultaneously, the Election Commission fixed July 14 as the date for hearing of the case of 21 AAP MLAs, who face disqualification for holding an Office of Profit on a petition filed by Prashant Patel, a lawyer dubbed as “BJP’s fellow traveller” by AAP.

The prospect of Kejriwal emerging as a crucial player in the Punjab Assembly elections early next year has heightened tensions between the ruling party at the Centre and AAP in Delhi. AAP sources said the party is gearing up for a pitched battle with Kejriwal and his closest lieutenant Manish Sisodia actively using social media to mount a scathing attack on the Prime Minister.

“Modi declares Emergency in Delhi. Arresting, raiding, terrorising, filing false cases against all those whom Delhi elected,” Kejriwal tweeted within moments of AAP MLA Dinesh Mohania being picked up by the police while addressing a press conference.

“ Emergency ki yaad ke din Dilli mein aghoshit Emergency. Modi Ji, ham sabko aise farzi aaropon mein jail mein dal doge tab bhi ham nahin jhukenge  (On a day we remember the dark day on which Emergency was imposed, undeclared Emergency has been imposed in Delhi. Modi Ji, you can slap false cases on all of us but we will still not bow down,” said Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia.    

The Delhi BJP simultaneously warned its workers to be “alert” in its fight against Arvind Kejriwal, while AAP MLAs marched to the Prime Minister’s residence and courted arrest against the Centre’s “excesses”.

The Delhi BJP held its State executive meeting over the weekend where a political resolution blaming Arvind Kejriwal for precipitating a “constitutional crisis” was adopted.

The resolution listed “failures and corruption scams of the Delhi government”. It asserted that the party holds “the autocratic, anarchic, whimsical attitude of the Chief Minister responsible for plunging Delhi into a constitutional crisis and bringing the administrative and development work to a standstill in the national capital”. Simultaneously, AAP struck back, targeting the Prime Minister for his “vindictiveness”.

“The Delhi government has been trying to perform its duties, working around the clock for the people.

“However, the Centre’s constant interference in the working of the State government and their attempt at creating obstacles shows the PM’s vindictive attitude towards his opponents,” said a statement issued by the AAP.