Kejriwal questions Modi for attack on Somnath Bharti

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday questioned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for the attack on his party leader Somnath Bharti.

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"Banaras had never seen this kind of violence till today. What kind of culture is the BJP introducing? This is very scary. Does this show that if Narendra Modi comes to power, then Varanasi will have this kind of culture? Is this the development model of Gujarat? It is often said that those in Gujarat who oppose him (Modi) are either threatened or bought or finished, is this kind of model to be implemented by Modi in Varanasi now?" Kejriwal said while interacting with mediapersons.

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"This shows how threatened the BJP feels, because BJP had assumed that there is Modi wave rampant here and they will win here. But the BJP is scared of the huge support shown by the people of Benaras to the honest politics of the Aam Aadmi Party," Kejriwal said.

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Kejriwal also claimed that the police failed to take appropriate action against the culprits. He alleged that when approached, the police asked for a written account of the attack rather than providing him with security.

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He added that AAP leader, Prashant Bhushan, will have a meeting with the Central Election Commission to look into the realm of the situation and ensure free and fare elections in the constituency.

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Somnath Bharti and some other party workers were attacked in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday night, but police said Bharti was not injured.

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Bharti was reportedly attacked during a TV show in Varanasi's Assi Ghat area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Bhelupur police station.

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Police said trouble started when AAP workers present at the show raised some slogans against the BJP, prompting activists of that party to launch an attack on AAP workers.

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Bharti is said to have tried to save his party workers, but was targeted by the attackers. When he tried to leave the venue and rushed towards his car, a stone was pelted on him and his car was vandalised.

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No case has been filed and party convenor Arvind Kejriwal has said that the AAP has forgiven the attackers.