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The competitive politics that has ensued has been prompted more by the fact that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government is on the backfoot over farmer distress and now finds itself in the line of fire with AAP accusing Delhi Police of 'inaction'. The Delhi Police comes under the control of the Centre. Home Minister Rajnath Singh making a statement on the floor of the Lok Sabha said, the crowd gathered for AAP rally "clapped and raised slogans" as the farmer, Gajendra Singh, climbed up the tree and ended his life. Adding, "Police requested them to stop raising slogans." He said the probe has been handed over to the Crime Branch after a criminal case under Sections 306, 186 and 34 of IPC was registered.
The Delhi Police too meanwhile, has been briefing the media alleging that AAP volunteers prevented the policemen from doing their duty and barring their way.
Stung by the accusations, AAP leaders today held a sudden press conference rebutting the charges. Kumar Vishwas said, "You must have seen that we were requesting the police to rescue him. Please show the truth as to whether we have incited anyone. At least tell the truth on the floor of the house. You (the government) are using the plank of the police in your statement."
AAP leaders however parried questions about news reports that the farmer was invited to the rally by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. There is likelihood of Gajendra Singh's call records being examined.
Meanwhile BJP workers today protested at Delhi Police headquarters demanding action against the AAP rally organizers. State BJP chief Satish Upadhyay courted arrest; he claimed it was a "motivated murder".
With four AAP MPs in the Lok Sabha, the house also witnessed heated exchanges after AAP member Bhagwant Mann took a dig at PM Modi which the Speaker immediately directed should be expunged. This had Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge questioning, what is wrong if the AAP member spoke about the Prime Minister's 'Mann ki Baat' programme.
Sensing the incensed mood of the house, PM Modi made an impromptu statement urging that everyone must take "collective responsibility" on farmer suicides which had been going for long.
Meanwhile Delhi Congress incharge Ajay Maken justifying his claim for a judicial probe into the incident said, "We are asking for a judicial enquiry by a High Court judge because we strongly feel that whatever enquiry Delhi Police does that would always be put under question mark because it comes under the Centre that is ruled by BJP. The AAP may question that the police was working against an opposition party."
The BJP - AAP war which emanated from the humiliating loss that the AAP delivered to the BJP in the Delhi Assembly polls, was soon followed by clashes over running of the civic municipal bodies in the capital. Both sides traded charges as civic functioning grinded to a halt.
The AAP has not lost any opportunity to underscore how the BJP had gone back on its promise of granting full statehood to Delhi and how it did not want to cede power to a majority AAP government.
