BJP to skip all-party meet, calls it a political gimmick

NEWDELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi will not participate in all party meeting on Tuesday called by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to find a solution to stop sealing drive in the city.

Delhi BJP general secretary Rajesh Bhatia said all party meeting was just a political gimmick and an attempt to mislead city traders, therefore no party leaders will attend the meeting. The meet is scheduled on Tuesday noon at CM’s residence.

“If the government is serious on the issue, it should have notified 351 roads for mixed land use. Delhi’s lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal has already given his consent to the proposal but it is pending for long,” Bhatia said.

Referring to Delhi BJP leaders’ meeting with Kejriwal on January 30 at his residence, Bhatia said misbehaviour with the delegation had proved that the CM does not believe in political dialogue.

Meanwhile, deputy minister Manish Sisodia and AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj questioned the absence of Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari.

“Today’s tweet by deputy CM Sisodia against Tiwari is politically motivated. Kejriwal invited a delegation of three leaders and nowhere in the letter was written ‘state party chief’. Tiwari is on an official visit to Mauritius with President Kovind,” Bhatia said.

However, Sanjay Singh, AAP Rajya Sabha MP said “If Tiwari is not in the country then his party can send any other leader. I hope that a consensus will be made on the issue and we will appeal the Centre to bring a bill for amendment to protect traders from the wrath of sealing drives.”