The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday, 29 September sharply accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating political vendetta after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against AAP leaders Saurabh Bhardwaj, Jarnail Singh, Sahib Singh, and several party workers. The FIR relates to the alleged assault of a Delhi Police Head Constable during AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal's visit to Tilak Nagar, New Delhi.

AAP's Counter-Charge

AAP National Media In-Charge Anurag Dhanda launched a pointed attack on the BJP, saying the party was using the police machinery to suppress political opponents. 'This is the India of Bharatiya Janata Party's thuggery — a nation where they want to spread hooliganism everywhere. They have filed an FIR against Jarnail Singh — the very person who exposed corruption,' Dhanda said.

Dhanda further alleged a double standard in law enforcement, arguing that no FIR had been filed against what he called a 'goonda Minister' who 'openly slapped a 22-year-old on the street, despite the incident being caught on camera.'

The Parvesh Verma Slapping Incident

The backdrop to the AAP offensive is an incident that occurred a day prior, when Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma allegedly slapped a youth during an inspection of a newly constructed road in the area. The episode reportedly took place in the presence of AAP MLA Jarnail Singh. AAP has since staged protests and sit-ins demanding an FIR against Verma, but said their calls have gone unheeded by authorities.

'Despite AAP staging protests and sit-ins to seek an FIR against the Cabinet Minister, their demands are not being heard,' Dhanda said, framing the silence as evidence of institutional bias in favour of the ruling party in Delhi.

Bhardwaj Broadens the Attack

AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj extended the criticism beyond the Verma incident, describing it as symptomatic of a wider cultural rot within the BJP. 'This isn't just about Parvesh Verma. This is about the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and their culture,' Bhardwaj said.

'Many of their leaders have now become like this, roaming around from place to place, in neighbourhoods and localities, engaging in hooliganism, intimidating people, threatening them, and beating them up. Why? So that no one can ask them any questions. So that no one can point a finger at their corruption; they want to silence everyone, but we will not remain silent,' he added.

Political Context and What Comes Next

The escalating war of words comes against the backdrop of ongoing political tensions in Delhi, where the BJP and AAP remain locked in a fierce contest for public narrative. Notably, AAP has repeatedly used allegations of police partisanship — Delhi Police reports to the Union Home Ministry rather than the Delhi government — as a central plank of its political messaging. The Tilak Nagar FIR is likely to intensify that argument heading into the next political cycle. Both parties are expected to continue trading allegations in coming days, with AAP signalling further street-level protests.