Synopsis
On January 24, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav announced that security for Arvind Kejriwal was withdrawn following directives from the Election Commission and Delhi Police. This decision drew criticism from Delhi CM Atishi, who accused BJP leaders of jeopardizing Kejriwal's safety.Key Takeaways
- Punjab DGP confirmed withdrawal of security for Kejriwal.
- Delhi CM Atishi criticized BJP for endangering Kejriwal.
- Concerns raised about Election Commission's inaction.
- Allegations of attack on Kejriwal during public meeting.
- Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 5.
New Delhi, Jan 24 (NationPress) Following Delhi Chief Minister Atishi's condemnation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the security withdrawal for Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that, adhering to directives from the Election Commission of India (EC) and the Delhi Police, they have retracted elements of the Punjab Police assigned to safeguard the former Chief Minister.
"We consistently receive reports indicating threats against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, which are communicated to the relevant agencies. In line with the orders from the Delhi Police and the Election Commission today, we have removed the Punjab police unit from Kejriwal ji's security," Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav informed the press on Thursday in Patiala.
Earlier on Thursday, CM Atishi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of "endangering the life" of former CM Kejriwal.
Further criticizing the BJP, CM Atishi questioned the Election Commission for being a "silent observer" amidst the "persistent assaults" on a national party leader.
"This is disgraceful. Upon the orders of Amit Shah ji, the @DelhiPolice today forcibly revoked @ArvindKejriwal ji's Punjab Police protection. Coincidentally, Kejriwal ji faced an assault by BJP affiliates in Hari Nagar the same day. Is Modi-Shah toying with Kejriwal's safety? How long will the Election Commission remain a silent observer? Why is there a lack of response to the repeated assaults on a national party leader?" Atishi expressed in a post on X on Thursday.
This situation arises after the Punjab Police rescinded its protection for AAP chief Kejriwal.
Atishi's comments followed AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal's statements earlier on Thursday, claiming that opposition members infiltrated his public meeting in Hari Nagar and assaulted his vehicle.
"Today in Hari Nagar, the police permitted the opposition candidate's supporters to disrupt my public meeting and then attacked my car. All of this is occurring under Amit Shah's directives. Amit Shah has turned the Delhi Police into the BJP's personal army," Kejriwal stated on X.
Kejriwal also expressed concerns regarding the Election Commission's inaction in light of the ongoing attacks against him.
"Major queries arise regarding the Election Commission, as the national leader of a national party and his colleagues are continuously assaulted, yet the Election Commission fails to implement any decisive measures," Kejriwal added in his post.
In response, BJP leader Parvesh Verma dismissed the claims of the alleged assault on Kejriwal's vehicle in Hari Nagar as a farce.
"@ArvindKejriwal, shortly we will witness a drama titled 'Hamla hua' (attack occurred), followed by posters stating 'Mujhe Kyon Mara?'. With elections approaching, the script is being penned by Bhai Saheb," Verma remarked on X.
This is not the first occasion where Kejriwal has alleged that he was attacked during his rally.
Last week, the AAP National Convenor claimed that he was assaulted by supposed BJP supporters during his campaign rally.
The Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for a single phase on February 5, with vote counting set for February 8.
In total, 699 candidates are vying for the 70 Assembly seats in Delhi.
The Congress, which held power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has faced significant losses in the last two Assembly elections, failing to secure any seats.
Conversely, the AAP dominated the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections, winning 67 and 62 seats respectively out of a total of 70 seats, while the BJP managed only three and eight seats in those elections.