AAP, BJP spar over charges against Finance Minister

Kejriwal trying to shield corrupt officer, says BJP

The war of words over accusation against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of his involvement in “glaring irregularities” in Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) intensified on Thursday, with the BJP coming all out in his defence, describing him as a man of “impeccable” political record.

The party described the accusations by Delhi’s AAP government as “blasphemous and preposterous campaign bordering on political hysteria”.

“The BJP resolutely stands behind Arun Jaitley and publicly condemns the malicious intent of the AAP to deflect public attention from a corrupt officer working with (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal,” Union Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani told reporters at a press conference.

She also made a comparison between Jaitley and Kejriwal in terms of their contributions so far, saying the Finance Minister had written his name in “golden letters in history” with his “dedication and work”.

She said a “blasphemous and preposterous” campaign bordering on political hysteria was being created by the AAP to divert the public attention from a “corrupt officer”. Kejriwal is failing the anti-corruption movement from which he had shot to limelight by making efforts to protect a “corrupt officer”, she added.

Jaitley also attacked the Delhi chief minister, saying it was a propaganda technique of Kejriwal to deflect attention when he himself was in the “dock”, as both the AAP and Congress intensified their demand for his resignation from the Union cabinet.

“There is no grain of truth in the allegations. I have consistently practised highest standards of probity in whatever positions I have held,” Jaitley said. He said no personal allegations were ever made against him nor did he feel the need to contradict them.

“I have left cricket administration in 2013. By referring to some facts of 2014 and 2015, he cannot drag me in. Even though I am not concerned with cricket administration since 2013, a Member of Parliament has been writing to various government bodies with regard to Delhi's cricket affairs,” he said.