Church attacks: AAP attempting to communalise Delhi polls, says BJP

BJP also accused AAP of being 'desperate' for minority votes

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was attempting to 'communalise' the upcoming Delhi assembly polls by fanning the recent attacks on churches in the national capital as it is 'desperate' for minority votes.

"The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is desperate to communalise the elections and to get voters of a particular community on to its side. I think you cannot differentiate between theft in temples and theft in churches," BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao told ANI.

"The Aam Aadmi Party's desperation to get the minority vote is very evident. We condemn the attempts of the Aam Aadmi Party to secure the votes of minority," he said.

Fellow BJP leader Sambit Patra echoed Narasimha Rao's sentiments, stating that the AAP was attempting to 'vitiate' the upcoming Delhi elections.

"The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is trying to communalise the whole Delhi elections. The way one of their spokespersons has been caught trying to communalise the atmosphere, trying to vitiate the atmosphere of Delhi is absolutely appalling," he said.

"We will see to it that the Election Commission is also apprised about the kind of communal atmosphere that the Aam Aadmi Party is trying to create in Delhi," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police detained protesters who had taken out a march from the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Central Delhi to protest the repeated attacks on various churches in the city.

The protesters were marching towards Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence, but were stopped on the way. Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Meena said the protesters had no permission to protest.

Meanwhile Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha, who was present to express his solidarity, has also been detained.

There have been five attacks on churches since December. In the latest incident earlier this week, the Saint Alphonsa's Church in South Delhi's Vasant Kunj was vandalised.