Saurabh Bhardwaj: BJP's Longstanding Hostility Towards Purvanchal
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New Delhi, Jan 10 (NationPress) In the midst of an escalating verbal clash, Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) representative Saurabh Bhardwaj on Friday countered the BJP's claims that former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had disrespected Purvanchalis (individuals hailing from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) and instead labeled the BJP as historically 'anti-Purvanchal'.
Speaking to IANS, Bhardwaj condemned BJP President J.P. Nadda for previously designating Purvanchalis as 'Rohingyas, Bangladeshis, and infiltrators' during a Parliamentary session. He denounced these comments as 'insulting' and emphasized that such utterances had deteriorated relationships with the local populace.
“The BJP has always been anti-Purvanchal. Recently, JP Nadda referred to Purvanchalis as 'Rohingyas' and 'infiltrators'. This is a direct affront. We are well aware of the treatment Purvanchalis endured under BJP administrations in Maharashtra and Gujarat,” Bhardwaj stated. “Just months ago, BJP officials obstructed Purvanchalis from celebrating Chhath Puja in Greater Kailash.”
The AAP leader further claimed that the BJP was attempting to distort electoral processes, alleging that the party had orchestrated the removal of names from voter registries in regions dominated by Purvanchalis, such as Shahdara and Kejriwal’s constituency.
"We provided a list of 10,000 names from Shahdara, where the BJP is removing Purvanchali voters. This is an effort to hijack elections," Bhardwaj asserted.
Bhardwaj then targeted BJP leader Giriraj Singh, who had previously labeled Arvind Kejriwal a 'traitor'.
"I have no interest in engaging with individuals who communicate at such a base level. They ought to refine themselves, acquire some decorum, and then we can converse," he expressed.
In response to recent remarks from BJP state President Virendra Sachdeva, who accused Kejriwal of inciting communal discord and compared his leadership to that of a 'mare' at a wedding, the AAP leader fired back.
“For the past 27 years, the BJP has been unable to identify a leader capable of serving as Chief Minister of Delhi. This is regrettable for the BJP, and currently, they lack a distinct agenda or vision for the future," Bhardwaj concluded.
