GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22d Jan. Ahead of the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress found common ground in attacking the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), particularly focusing on the alleged involvement of Punjab police in campaigning for AAP and the movement of thousands of vehicles registered in Punjab in Delhi.
The accusations were triggered by BJP leader Parvesh Verma, who claimed that vehicles with Punjab number plates were roaming in New Delhi, with the potential to compromise security during Republic Day preparations. He alleged that these vehicles were being used to ferry high-profile figures, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and were involved in distributing money and liquor to influence voters. Verma further accused Punjab government employees of installing Chinese-made CCTV cameras near India Gate, a high-security area, and filed a complaint with the Election Commission.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit echoed similar concerns, accusing Punjab police officers of campaigning for AAP candidates in Delhi. He claimed to have photographic evidence and demanded that the Election Commission take action. “You cannot get police or officers from any state to campaign in elections,” Dikshit asserted.
The AAP swiftly responded to these accusations, with Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann leading the charge. Kejriwal condemned Verma’s remarks, claiming that by suggesting Punjabis were a security threat, the BJP had insulted the sacrifices made by Punjabis for the country. Mann called the BJP’s attack on Punjabis “extremely dangerous and insulting,” defending the movement of vehicles from Punjab as a regular occurrence in Delhi, a city that sees people from all states.
AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar accused the BJP of divisive politics, while Malvinder Singh Kang condemned Verma for defaming Punjabis by labeling them as “terrorists.” The political squabble also involved an exchange between the Delhi and Punjab police, with Delhi’s police requesting information on AAP leaders’ movements from Punjab and Punjab police urging compliance with Election Commission guidelines.
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