Bengal AAP threatens hunger strike demanding arrest of 'BJP goons'

Condemning the attack on it party workers by "BJP goons" in West Bengal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Monday threatened to sit on a fast-unto-death demanding the arrest of the attackers.

The party also demanded Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state president Rahul Sinha to take back his claim that the AAP's state unit has merged with the saffron party.

The AAP claimed that three of its volunteers were critically injured Sunday when over 100 BJP "workers and goons" attacked them while they were peacefully demonstrating against Sinha's "baseless claim".

"Our volunteers were beaten up mercilessly at the instruction of the BJP leadership. We strongly condemn this politics of violence. If the BJP hired goons who attacked on us are not arrested immediately, we will sit on a fast unto death," AAP national council member Prince Pathak told mediapersons here.

AAP leaders also alleged that the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are conspiring to incite communal strife.

"AAP had unmasked the Congress which eventually led to its capitulation in the Lok Sabha polls so now the BJP is wary of us and is conspiring with the RSS to create communal tensions in Bengal.

"We demand that Sinha immediately withdraw his claim about the merger and issue an apology," said party leader Alok Chaturvedi, who contested the Lok Sabha polls.

Chaturvedi said a central delegation led by party chief Arvind Kejriwal would soon visit the state to lend support to the volunteers of the party who are now apprehensive of their security.

The BJP, however, rubbished the charges and claimed the AAP's demonstration was illegal as they did not have police permission.