War of words over chargesheeting Kejriwal

Chargesheeting of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as accused in Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash assault case has led to a war of words between AAP and BJP.

The Delhi Police on Monday named Kejriwal, Sisodia and 11 MLAs as accused in the charge sheet filed before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal in connection with the case of assault that took place in the Chief Minister's official residence on February 19.

The 1,300-page charge sheet claimed that Kejriwal, Sisodia and others criminally conspired to threaten the Chief Secretary with death or grievous hurt, obstructed him in discharging his public function and caused hurt.

They were also charged under sections of IPC, which included wrongfully confining any person, assaulting or using criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty, insulting him to provoke breach of peace and abetment of the offence. The court will hear the case on August 25.

The AAP and BJP locked horns over the charge sheet. While BJP demanded that Kejriwal should resign on moral grounds, AAP claimed that the Narendra Modi government indulged in "conspiracy" to defame their leaders and the party.

"A midnight conspiracy to defame the Delhi Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and 11 MLAs in a false and laughable case, was hatched at the highest level by the Modi government through its politically appointed Lieutenant Governor and the pro-BJP Chief Secretary," AAP spokesperson and MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj said.

Other view

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said it was a "shameful" day in the history of Delhi's polity as the chief minister and the deputy chief Minister stand accused of "criminal conspiracy".

"The chief minister should own moral responsibility for the attack and hand over his charge to a party colleague till the court decides the matter," he said.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said, "Calling Chief Secretary at 12 midnight to Chief Minister's house to thrash him and intimidate him is unprecedented in Indian political history."

"These were the very bureaucrats who worked with successive Congress Governments from 1998-2014. During this period we won six elections and high public approval ratings. If politicians are truthful and only with public interest in mind -bureaucrats are always supportive," he added.