Ahead of polls, AAP cries foul over BJP ads, police misuse

Arvind Kejriwal also hit out at BJP for displaying its 7 months achievements of leading the central govt

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its front-page advertisements in various national newspapers, terming this a violation of the model code of conduct.

Besides, after Naresh Balyan, AAP’s Uttam Nagar candidate for Saturday’s Delhi Assembly election, was summoned by the police over a case related to seizure of liquor from his premises, the party leadership is to soon meet Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi. They claim police officials are “under pressure to make fictitious cases” against AAP.

“The advertisements on the front page of newspapers are worth crores of rupees. Where is the money coming from? BJP must explain,” said AAP leader Manish Sisodia. Though the campaigning for the Delhi elections ended on Thursday evening, BJP was continuing to display such advertisements, AAP leaders said. 

“Campaigning over. No speakers, canvassing, bulk calls, SMS or even leaflets. Now look at these ads. Isn’t this a joke? [sic],” AAP chief spokesperson Yogendra Yadav said on microblogging site Twitter.

Even as another AAP leader, Ashutosh, accused BJP of violating the model code, BJP denied this charge. “AAP’s desperation is quite visible today. It’s an irony the party is unaware of the model code of conduct,” said Sambit Patra, a spokesperson for BJP.

AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal also hit out at BJP for displaying in an advertisement its achievements during its first seven months at the Centre.

“BJP has highlighted its 7 months achievements in its full page advertisements today. Do these achievements excite you? Are they as per your expectations? [sic]” Kejriwal tweeted.

On the issue of liquor being allegedly seized from Balyan’s premises, AAP claimed the Delhi police was being misused. “Last night I had a word with top police officials. They are under pressure to make fictitious cases against AAP candidates... Will try to meet the police commissioner to request him to not get pressurised [sic],” Ashutosh said in a series of tweets.

The Delhi Police, though, denied this charge and termed it an “attempt to screen the real criminals”, and also said it had concrete evidence against the AAP candidate. “We have certain evidences, so Naresh Balyan was summoned twice and notice was served on him. We are probing the case with all sensitivity,” said Bassi.