In the latest political controversy surrounding the Delhi elections, BJP leader Parvesh Verma has strongly denied the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) allegations that supporters attacked Arvind Kejriwal’s car during a campaign event on Saturday. Verma, contesting in the New Delhi assembly constituency, claimed that instead of an attack, Kejriwal’s vehicle ran over three youths who were protesting against him.
The Aam Aadmi Party earlier posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “BJP goons” attacked Kejriwal during his door-to-door campaign. According to the AAP, supporters hurled stones and bricks at Kejriwal to sabotage his campaign and intimidate him ahead of the elections. The party also accused Verma’s supporters of orchestrating the attack.
Reacting to these allegations, Verma accused Kejriwal of instructing the driver of his vehicle to deliberately run over the three youths. He claimed that the protestors, identified as Vishal, Abhishek, and Rohit, had approached Kejriwal during his campaign in the New Delhi constituency and attempted to ask questions about employment. Verma stated that Punjab Police officers beat the youths and damaged a worker’s phone during the scuffle.
“While campaigning near Lal Bahadur Sadan, three young men—Vishal, Abhishek, and Rohit—tried to ask Kejriwal questions. However, Punjab Police intervened and beat them. One of our workers’ phones was also broken in the process,” Verma was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Verma further alleged that when the youths stood in the path of Kejriwal’s car, the driver applied the brakes, but Kejriwal then allegedly signaled the driver to hit them. “Kejriwal instructed the driver to crush them. “The youths are injured, and I consider this an attempted murder. I will file a report at the police station, and they will register an FIR,” Verma said.
The BJP leader dismissed the AAP’s claims of an attack, labeling them as “baseless.”
On the other hand, AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar condemned Verma’s statements and reiterated the party’s original claim that BJP goons had attacked Kejriwal. “This attack is an act of desperation by the BJP, fearing defeat. They got their goons to target Kejriwal with stones and bricks to stop him from campaigning,” Kakkar said, also calling for action from the Election Commission to investigate the matter.
Kakkar further alleged that Parvesh Verma was present at the site when the incident occurred, and noted that despite the BJP’s attempts to sway voters with money and gifts, the people of Delhi continued to support Kejriwal.
The AAP also expressed concerns about the Election Commission’s failure to take swift action regarding the incident. Kakkar urged the Commission to ensure a peaceful election process and hold those responsible accountable.
As the Delhi elections approach, both parties continue to accuse each other of dirty tactics and unfair campaign strategies. Voters will cast their ballots in the elections on February 5, and officials will announce the results on February 8. In the New Delhi constituency, Arvind Kejriwal will face off against Parvesh Verma, with the AAP accusing Verma of attempting to influence voters by distributing money, shoes, and blankets.
This latest altercation marks another chapter in the intense political battle as both parties gear up for the crucial February elections.
