Delhi Chief Minister Atishi.
Credit: X/@ANI
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Sunday claimed that the BJP is conspiring to kill AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal using "hardcore criminals" fearing defeat in the Assembly elections and that people who were behind the attack were frequently seen with his rival candidate Parvesh Verma.
Another senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP, Delhi Police, Home Minister and Verma were involved in the conspiracy and if there was no conspiracy, those behind the pelting of stones at Kejriwal's car would have been arrested by suo moto taking action and not wait for a formal complaint from them.
Kejriwal, later, told a press conference that Delhi has not witnessed this kind of a campaign violence. "We haven't seen a murderous attack on a former Chief Minister in Delhi. They are facing defeat. They only know this way to fight elections. They will campaign only this way," he said.
A controversy had erupted on Saturday after a stone hit Kejriwal's car in Gole Market area while campaigning as Verma alleged that his car hit BJP supporters and sped away, injuring three people.
Hitting back at AAP, Verma on Sunday said, "The youth belong to New Delhi constituency and were protesting against Kejriwal. He calls them people aligned with the BJP and myself. I have close acquaintance with all 1.09 lakh voters. Kejriwal does not feel for people in his constituency and says these youths are goons."
Addressing a press meet with Singh, the Chief Minister claimed three "hardcore criminals" with cases of dacoity, causing death during dacoity and attempt to culpable homicide were part of Verma's campaign and they were part of the attack.
She said the name of one of the alleged attackers is Rahul alias Shanky, who is "closely associated" with Verma. "They (BJP) want to eliminate Kejriwal," he said while Singh added, Singh added, "the BJP is unable to defeat us in the elections and so they are resorting to such tactics to remove Kejriwal from their way."
"This individual (Rahul) who has multiple criminal cases against him was involved in the attack. He is frequently seen with Verma. They want to eliminate Arvind Kejriwal," she said. She also referred to the cases against Rohit Tyagi and Sumit, who are seen campaigning for Verma and present at the venue where the incident of stone pelting happened.
"The attacker who threw stones at Kejriwal was running away after the attack and then suddenly his leg broke. Verma has kept dangerous criminals with him to attack Kejriwal," Singh said.