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AAP Accuses CEC of Destroying Credibility of ECI, Cries Foul over “Raid” of Punjab CM’s Delhi Residence
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Jan 30: The former Delhi chief minister and the Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused the Chief Election Commissioner of playing politics having destroyed the credibility of the Election Commission on the row over alleged poisoning of the Yamuna river water being drawn for supplying drinking water to the people of Delhi.
The AAP leaders and also the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday lashed out at the Election Commission and Delhi Police for reaching his Kapurthala House residence in New Delhi for a “raid,” accusing them of trying to “defame” the Punjabis at the behest of the BJP. In a post on X, Mr Mann also alleged that the EC was not seeing “open distribution” of money by the BJP in the run-up to the Delhi polls and was trying to raid his residence instead.
His attack on the ECI came after the Commission refused to accept Mr Kejriwal’s explanation on his charge on the BJP government in Haryana which Mr Kejriwal had alleged on Monday having mixed poison in Haryana in the upstream of Yamuna river and shift the blame on the AAP government in the Union Territory.
The Election Commission of India had earlier in the day said the AAP chief’s response did not specify any evidence regarding the poisoning of river Yamuna. In a letter to Mr Kejriwal, the ECI asked him not to mix the issue of increased Ammonia in the water with that of poisoning and asked him to respond again by January 31, 11 a.m.
Mr Kejriwal on Wednesday replied to the ECI notice Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday replied to the ECI notice over his claims on poisoning of Yamuna river water blaming the issue on indiscriminate discharge of untreated waste into the river upstream, and denying he violated any laws.
On January 27, Mr Kejriwal alleged that Haryana’s BJP government was mixing poison in the Yamuna water that is reaching Delhi. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday hit back to the claim by sipping water from the Yamuna river. He said there was no poison in the water coming from his State to Delhi.
Mr Kejriwal asked the voters not to waste their votes on the Congress party. “Some people here are thinking about voting for Congress. Why would you waste your vote? Congress won’t win. It will only cut votes. The Congress and the BJP have struck a deal,” he said in a rally. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Mr Kejriwal of being “against Dalits and minorities” for not clearing his stand over the issue of caste census. Addressing a rally in Bawana. Mr Gandhi also said the former Delhi Chief Minister had “failed to stand by people” during the February 2020 north-east Delhi riots.
Delhi Legislative Assembly election for all the 70 constituencies are scheduled to be held on February 5, 2025. In a stinging attack on Mr Kejriwal, Mr Gandhi said Mr Kejriwal “lies just like Narendra Modi” but was probably more “cunning” and “sophisticated” than the prime minister. Addressing a public meeting in the Badli constituency in the run-up to the February 5 Assembly polls, Mr Gandhi asserted that he and his party can never compromise with the BJP. “We will die but never compromise with these people.”
Mr Gandhi also lashed out at the AAP supremo over his five-year-old promise of making Yamuna water potable and his press conference on Thursday, saying it reflected his “hollowness.”
BJP president J.P. Nadda on Thursday attacked the ruling AAP in Delhi over the issue of corruption and asked people to make the National Capital “AAP-DA” (disaster) free in the upcoming elections. Calling the AAP chief “anti-national” for making such an allegation, Mr Nadda said, “He is pitting people of Delhi and Haryana against each other. He is trying to create panic among the people. He does not deserve to be in politics.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday alleged corruption in use of money meant for cleaning Yamuna river during the AAP’s rule, as he exhorted people to dislodge the Kejriwal-led party from power in Delhi. “BJP will make Delhi the number one capital if voted to power,” Mr Shah said, adding, “February 5 is an opportunity for the people of Delhi to oust ‘AAP-da,’ and give mandate to the BJP.”
Meanwhile, a Delhi police team showed up at the Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s Delhi residence on Thursday evening, to investigate “a complaint of money distribution before next week’s election in Delhi prompting an outcry, and claims of a “raid”, from the ruling AAP leaders. Visuals from outside Kapurthala House – near Connaught Place in central Delhi – showed half-a-dozen uniformed security personnel, with assault rifles, stationed outside the main gate.
Shortly afterwards the Returning Officer for the New Delhi constituency, OP Pandey, told reporters the poll panel had received a complaint – on its cVIGIL mobile app – about money distribution. “We have to dispose of the complaint within 100 minutes. Our team had come (but) was not allowed to enter. I have come to request them to let us enter… with a cameraperson.”
Responding on X, Mr Mann accused the Delhi Police and Election Commission of “defaming Punjabis at the behest of the BJP”. “Today, an Election Commission team with Delhi Police came to raid my house… Kapurthala House in Delhi. BJP people are openly distributing money in Delhi, but Delhi Police and Election Commission are not seeing anything. No action is being taken on all this.”
The exact nature of the complaint is not known at this time, but there are reports that indicate it stems from last night’s seizure of a car parked outside Punjab Bhavan on Copernicus Marg. Sources said around Rs 8 lakh in cash, liquor, and AAP pamphlets were found in the car, which also had a ‘Government of Punjab’ sticker on it. The Punjab government said the car is not theirs.
It was pointed out the number plate of the seized vehicle matched a Ford Eco Sport used by the state, but the vehicle in police custody now is a Hyundai Creta. Delhi Police have registered a case.
Nevertheless, the cops’ presence prompted the AAP to push back. Chief Minister Atishi also claimed an imminent “raid” of Mr Mann’s home by the cops and, in response to the ‘cash-for-votes’ rumours, also alleged numerous similar violations by the BJP had been ignored by the Election Commission.
She referred to a letter, sent to the poll body this morning, claiming distribution of money and liquor, in large quantities, in her constituency, i.e., Kalkaji. She also claimed a resident had been “threatened with dire consequences (by) people carrying guns… and seen roaming with a Delhi Police constable.” “BJP people distribute money, shoes… in broad daylight. That is not visible. Instead, they raid the residence of an elected Chief Minister,” she raged online after cops turned up at Mr Mann’s home.”