NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday claimed that former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was attacked during his campaign in the New Delhi constituency. The incident has sparked a political war of words between the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
AAP shared a video on social media alleging that BJP candidate Parvesh Verma’s supporters attacked Kejriwal’s convoy with bricks and stones. The party claimed that the attackers attempted to injure Kejriwal to hinder his campaigning efforts. The accompanying post said in Hindi, “BJP people, Kejriwal ji is not going to be scared of your cowardly attack, the people of Delhi will give you a befitting reply.”
Addressing the incident, AAP national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said, “Today again BJP goons attacked Arvind Kejriwal, who was campaigning in New Delhi Vidhan Sabha, with stones. When Parvesh Verma was campaigning on the ground there, he was stunned to see that even after distributing so much money and doing all the black deeds, the public is with Arvind Kejriwal. This attack is extremely condemnable. The Election Commission does not want a peaceful election to take place in the New Delhi Assembly. Its eyes are shut… Immediate action should be taken on this. I hope the eyes of the Election Commission and the Delhi Police will open.”
In response, BJP candidate from the New Delhi assembly seat, Parvesh Verma, accused Kejriwal and his team of violence and misconduct. He said, “All the allegations of AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal are baseless.”
He further alleged that during Kejriwal’s door-to-door campaign near Lal Bahadur Sadan, three unemployed youths—Vishal, Abhishek, and Rohit—attempted to question Kejriwal about issues like employment. According to Verma, “Punjab Police beat them up, broke a worker’s phone, and Kejriwal’s car hit the three youths. The driver applied brakes, but Kejriwal signaled the driver to crush them. This is an attempt to murder.”
Verma claimed the three youths were injured. Speaking to reporters, he said, “The car of Arvind Kejriwal has gone ahead by crushing the worker of the BJP. The leg of the worker has broken, and I am going to the Lady Hardinge Medical College to inquire about his health. This is very shameful.” He added, “A case of attempt to murder will also be registered.”
Verma furthe said, “All the three injured are residents of this assembly constituency, and they were hit by the car of AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal. Arvind Kejriwal is afraid of his defeat.”
Authorities have not yet verified the details of the incident. With campaigning intensifying for the New Delhi assembly seat, the incident has added to the charged atmosphere as both parties spar over the accusations.
