Arvind Kejriwal; Parvesh Verma.
Credit: PTI Photos
New Delhi: BJP candidate Parvesh Verma's comments raising security concerns about "thousands of vehicles with Punjab registration" roaming around Delhi ahead of Republic Day and Assembly election triggered a war of words with AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal saying that a "small kid from Delhi is now challenging Punjabis" while demanding an apology for "insulting" people from Punjab.
Verma, on his part, filed a Rs 100-crore defamation case against Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing them of levelling false allegations against him. He said if he wins the case, he plans to use the money for development work in his New Delhi constituency from where he is contesting against Kejriwal.
On Tuesday, Verma told reporters that thousands of vehicles with Punjab registration plates are roaming around in the national capital. "Who is in those vehicles? Preparations for celebrating January 26 (Republic Day) are going on here. Are they going to do something big here that could put our security at risk."
His remarks were picked up by the AAP to target the BJP. There are a large number of voters with Punjabi links.
"Dilli Ka chhota sa ladka (a small kid from Delhi) is now challenging Punjabis of Delhi and Punjab. There are lakhs of Punjabis living in Delhi whose families and ancestors have made countless sacrifices for the country. Home Minister Amit Shah should apologise to the country and the Punjabis over Verma's statement," Kejriwal told a press conference.
He also said lakhs of Punjabi refugees also live in Delhi who left everything behind during the difficult times of partition and settled in Delhi.
“Their families have also suffered numerous hardships. By what BJP leaders are saying today, they are insulting his martyrdom and sacrifice. Delhi is ruled by Punjabis. By calling Punjabis a threat to the country, BJP has insulted lakhs of Punjabis living in Delhi,” he said.
Mann said, "Verma's statement is extremely dangerous, worrying and insulting to Punjabis. They are marking vehicles with Punjab number plates and asking why are vehicles from Punjab roaming in Delhi? They are saying as if Punjabis are a threat to the security of the country...Today every Punjabi is feeling extremely pained and insulted. It is not right to question the patriotism of Punjabis in this way for your dirty politics," he said.
Responding to AAP leaders, Verma said, "I don't need to mention what I and my family have done for the Sikh community" and accused Kejriwal of resorting to lies out of frustration over his party's "imminent defeat."