Kejriwal's 'India-Pak situation' remark for Delhi anti-national: BJP

It is shocking that Kejriwal is equating Delhi with Pakistan, says Vijay Goel

The BJP on Monday dubbed as "anti-national" Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's accusation that the Centre was creating an "India-Pak like situation" in the national capital, and demanded his apology.

"It is shocking that Kejriwal is equating Delhi with Pakistan. It is an anti-national statement," Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs and BJP leader Vijay Goel told reporters here.

"By playing the victim card and equating Delhi with Pakistan, Kejriwal has put India's image at stake," Goel said, and added: "His statement implies that India has been victimising Pakistan and that is what Pakistan's propaganda machinery has been trying to establish."

"Now, Kejriwal is speaking in the same voice as the propaganda machine of Pakistan," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader alleged.

Goel's response came a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader held an interactive session "Talk To AK" on Sunday and accused the Centre of creating obstructions in the working of the Delhi government due to which, he said, it was unable to work to its full potential.

"Had the Centre not created an India-Pak like situation in Delhi, we would have done fourfold more work," Kejriwal said on Sunday while answering a caller during his maiden interactive session.

Goel demanded that the AAP leader apologise to the nation for making such "irresponsible" statements.

"It is unbecoming of a Chief Minister. If he doesn't offer an apology, the people of Delhi along with BJP workers will launch an agitation to compel him to do so," the Rajya Sabha member said.

"We are unfortunate to have a chief minister who seems to be hell-bent on bringing down the level of political discourse. He uses words like 'psychopath' and 'coward' for the Prime Minister. He calls Delhi Police personnel 'thulla', and now, he is equating Delhi with Pakistan," the BJP leader said.

"It can be his frustration but he should not put at stake national interests and the image of the country for petty political gains," Goel added.

Goel also accused the AAP leader of using derogatory language to earn publicity.

"They spent over Rs 100 crore during the odd-even traffic regulation scheme with his pictures on posters, whereas studies by different institutions clearly said that the pollution level and traffic conditions didn't improve in the city."