Kejriwal says 'India important, not me' after BJP vandalizes house
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, a day after BJP workers vandalized his residence for his comments regarding The Kashmir Files movie. "Kejriwal is not important. The country is important," he said. Describing Wednesday's incident as BJP's "goondagardi (hooliganism)," Kejriwal asked, "What message will this send to the youth of the country?"
Why does this story matter?
Members of the BJP's youth wing—Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM)—had vandalized the property outside Kejriwal's residence on Wednesday. BYJM workers were protesting against Kejriwal's remarks on The Kashmir Files, a controversial film regarding the 1990s exodus of Kashmiri Pandits. Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP have locked horns over TKF. The BJP demands that the movie be declared tax-free in Delhi.
'Can die for country,' says Kejriwal
Kejriwal said on Thursday, "If the world's largest and ruling party (BJP) does such hooliganism in Delhi, then what message will it send to the youth of the country?" He was answering a question about Wednesday's vandalism at a launch of e-autos in Delhi. "I can die for the country," he said, also urging people to work together for the progress of the country.
BJP wants to kill Kejriwal: Deputy CM
Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has claimed that the BJP wants to "murder" Kejriwal. "I want to tell the BJP—if you conspire to murder Kejriwal, the country will not tolerate it," he said, "We will file a case in the incident." Sisodia said the BJP wants to kill Kejriwal as it cannot defeat the AAP politically, referring to the recent Punjab elections.
Protest by BJP outside the CM's residence
On Wednesday, BJP workers led by Member of Parliament (MP) Tejasvi Surya staged a demonstration and raised slogans against Kejriwal outside his residence. However, things went south after the workers clashed with the police deployed at the site. Several videos of the protest emerged online, showing people carrying BJP flags clashing with police personnel at the barricade outside the house.
What did the police say?
In a statement, the Delhi Police said that some protesters breached two barricades and reached the chief minister's house at around 1 pm where they created a ruckus and shouted slogans. "They were carrying a small box of paint from which they threw paint at the door...a boom barrier arm was also found vandalized and a CCTV camera," the police added.
Delhi Police arrests 8
The police said that immediate steps were taken to remove the protesters and around 70 people have been detained in connection with the incident. "Legal action is being initiated," DCP (Delhi North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said on Wednesday. Eight people have been arrested so far.
What had Kejriwal said on 'The Kashmir Files'?
Kejriwal was accused of insulting Kashmiri Pandits during his assembly speech recently after Delhi BJP legislators demanded to declare the movie tax-free in Delhi. "They are saying make The Kashmir Files tax-free. Put it on YouTube, it will be free," Kejriwal had said amid laughter and thumping of desks. The BJP then claimed that Kejriwal was laughing at the plight of Kashmiri Pandits.
