Arvind Kejriwal, Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has raised serious concerns about the alleged intimidation and harassment of his party workers in the New Delhi Assembly constituency, accusing BJP workers of targeting AAP volunteers in the lead-up to the elections.
In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Kejriwal expressed his alarm over the actions of BJP workers and the Delhi Police, which he claims are undermining AAP’s campaign. “I am writing to express my grave concern over the intimidation and harassment being faced by our grassroots volunteers in New Delhi at the hands of BJP workers and Delhi Police,” Kejriwal wrote.
Kejriwal is contesting the New Delhi Assembly seat against Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit and BJP’s Parvesh Verma.
The AAP leader highlighted specific instances of alleged mistreatment of his volunteers, including unlawful detention, physical abuse, and wrongful charges. One such case involved senior AAP volunteer Chetan, who was allegedly detained by the police at Tilak Marg Police Station and falsely accused of having prior criminal cases, despite no such charges existing against him. Kejriwal described how Chetan was subjected to severe physical abuse, causing him to faint and necessitate hospitalization. He was later granted bail after being presented to the concerned authorities.
Kejriwal also accused the Delhi Police of selectively targeting AAP volunteers, subjecting them to arbitrary detentions and harassment. He suggested these actions were part of a coordinated effort to suppress his party’s election campaign and discourage volunteers from participating. “We are witnessing a systematic effort to suppress our party’s grassroots workers through unlawful detentions and threats, allegedly at the behest of the BJP,” Kejriwal stated.
He expressed concerns that such tactics might escalate in the days leading up to and on the morning of election day, potentially disrupting AAP’s election operations.
In light of these claims, Kejriwal has called for the deployment of independent observers to ensure the fairness of the elections. He also demanded the protection of AAP volunteers from further harassment, accountability for any misuse of police power, and strict action against BJP workers involved in violent activities. “These orchestrated attacks on our volunteers are a direct assault on the democratic process and must be addressed immediately to safeguard the integrity of the elections,” he said.
The Delhi Assembly elections are set to take place on February 5, with the vote count scheduled for February 8.
