Delhi Elections: Maken Blames Kejriwal for Terrorism in Punjab and Condemns Statue Vandalism
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Synopsis
In a recent press conference, Ajay Maken of the Congress party accused Arvind Kejriwal of fostering lawlessness in Punjab, linking it to a recent desecration incident in Amritsar and the resurgence of terrorism in the state.
Key Takeaways
- Ajay Maken criticizes Arvind Kejriwal for lawlessness in Punjab.
- The vandalism of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar's statue sparked outrage.
- Maken claims AAP is shielding terrorists involved in Punjab blasts.
- Concerns raised about Kejriwal's alleged ties with radicals.
- Accusations of drug trafficking from Delhi to Punjab by AAP.
New Delhi, Jan 27 (NationPress) As part of Congress party’s ‘AAP ke Pap’ (Sins of AAP) initiative, former Delhi Assembly speaker Ajay Maken criticized AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal for the increasing lawlessness in Punjab that has led to a desecration incident in Amritsar and a resurgence of terrorism in the region.
Maken labeled Kejriwal a ‘khalnayak’ (villain) and ‘anarchist’, denouncing the vandalism of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar's statue in Amritsar on Sunday, attributing it to the escalating chaos in Punjab. He accused AAP of protecting terrorists responsible for 11 blasts in Punjab under the Bhagwant Singh Mann administration.
“The moment has arrived to send the anarchist Kejriwal packing, as he is the root cause of the disorder in Punjab,” said Maken.
During a press conference, Maken utilized a slideshow to present a news clip from February 2, 2017, featuring a warning from top cop K.P.S. Gill about AAP’s election potentially fostering radical elements.
Accusing AAP of providing shelter to pro-Khalistan factions, Maken remarked that police station areas in Punjab were being targeted with Austrian-made grenades, similar to those used in the Mumbai and Parliament terror attacks, hinting at the involvement of Pakistani agencies.
Joined by former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Maken expressed outrage over the vandalism of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s statue in Amritsar, condemning the disrespect shown to the principal architect of the Indian Constitution.
This vandalism occurred on January 26, when one Akashdeep Singh, reportedly from the Scheduled Caste community, defaced the statue on Heritage Street near the Golden Temple complex.
Randhawa criticized Kejriwal’s development model, stating, “In Punjab, he promotes the Delhi model, while in Delhi, he advocates the Punjab model.”
Raising alarm over Kejriwal’s purported connections with radicals, Randhawa referenced the former Delhi chief minister’s links with Gurinder Singh, an accused in the 2017 temple blast, and highlighted Kejriwal's overnight stay at the latter’s residence.
Referring to a claim made by a pro-Khalistan group in March 2024 regarding a donation of $16 million (Rs 128 crore) to AAP, Randhawa pointed out the lack of action from the ruling Punjab government against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Canadian-American lawyer associated with the pro-Khalistan organization Sikhs for Justice, despite his threats towards AAP leaders.
Randhawa further alleged that AAP MP Raghav Chadha maintains regular contact with pro-Khalistan radicals, both through phone and in-person meetings.
The Congress representative from Punjab stated that there have been 11 attacks using grenades and explosives in the state in recent months, with state police remaining in denial.
“Whenever there is a bomb blast, the state police pass it off as a cracker blast or a radiator blast from a car,” he remarked, adding that walls of police stations are being built and roads leading to these stations are blocked after dark to thwart terror attacks.
He also accused AAP of exacerbating the drug crisis in Punjab by facilitating the influx of narcotics from Delhi to the agricultural state.
