Kejriwal's residence vandalized, AAP says BJP wants to 'murder' him
Surrounded by controversy over his remark on the Bollywood film 'The Kashmir Files', Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence was vandalized on Wednesday. "Anti-social elements have broken CCTV cameras and security barriers by attacking Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ji's house in Delhi. The barrier on the gate has also been broken," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said in a tweet in Hindi.
BJP 'goons' behind the vandalism: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'goons' were behind the act. "BJP's goons kept vandalising the house of CM Arvind Kejriwal ji. Instead of stopping them, the BJP's police brought them to the door of the house," Sisodia said in another tweet. Notably, the BJP and AAP have locked horns over the film.
BJP wants to murder Kejriwal: AAP
Addressing a press conference later, Sisodia 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. BJP got zero seats in Punjab and AAP scored big. BJP cannot defeat AAP politically and so it wants to murder Kejriwal. We will file a case in the incident," he said.
BJP's protest outside the CM's residence
On Wednesday, Bharatiya Janata Party (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, showing people carrying BJP flags clashing with the 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 vandalised and a CCTV camera," it added.
Around 70 people detained
The police added 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," Sagar Singh Kalsi, DCP (Delhi North), said.
What is the whole issue?
Kejriwal was accused of insulting Kashmiri Pandits during his assembly speech recently after Delhi BJP legislators demanded to declare the movie tax-free in the national capital. "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. BJP has claimed that Kejriwal was laughing at the plight of Kashmiri Pandits.
