As Delhi heads for polls, AAP pitches a 'peace committee' in every constituency

Accuses BJP of playing politics and instigating riots

With the Delhi Assembly elections in sight, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday took up the recent Trilokpuri riots issue and promised to form a peace committee in every constituency if voted to power.

“We will set up an Aman Samithi (peace committee) in every constituency, which will have members from all religious groups, so that there is a feeling of brotherhood among all, ” AAP convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said at a press conference here. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung announced on Monday that the state will head for fresh polls as no political party was in a position to form a government.

AAP charged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing politics of hatred and alleged that the BJP has been instigating riots in the national capital in recent days. “The BJP has tried to instigate riots recently. We condemn this. We have heard that villagers are throwing such people involved out of their localities, which is good news,” said Kejriwal. The BJP has denied this allegation saying the issue should not be politicised.

AAP claimed the Centre’s announcement of giving a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the 1984 riots has been withdrawn. “We came to know last evening (Monday) that the relief given to the victims has been taken back. We condemn this and urge the Centre to give back the compensation amount to the victim’s family,” said Kejriwal, who demanded the notification of a Special Investigation Team to look into the 1984 riots.

The party said it was confident of winning at least 45 seats (of the total 70) in the coming elections. “We will go to the public by projecting the work we did when we were in power for 49 days. We will make Delhi corruption-free,” said the AAP chief.

Kejriwal told reporters he saw “no reason” why he would not contest from his present New Delhi constituency and that the party would soon take a decision on this. In the elections held last year, Kejriwal had defeated former chief minister Sheila Dikshit with a huge margin.