Verma sparks fresh row, calls Kejriwal a terrorist in Madipur
AAP complains to Election Commission, seeks FIR; Verma says he called CM a ‘Naxalite’
NEWDELHI: A day after the Election Commission (EC) put West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma on notice over an interview in which he alleged that protesters gathered at Shaheen Bagh will “enter homes... rape... and kill”, a fresh controversy erupted on Wednesday when he purportedly called Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal a “terrorist”.
In a video clip, Verma was heard as purportedly saying, “If Kejriwal comes to power again, Madipur’s streets will become Shaheen Bagh. There are many Natwarlals (cheats) and aatankwadi (terrorists) hiding in Delhi. We have to throw them out. I fail to understand if we should fight terrorists in Kashmir or against terrorist like Kejriwal in Delhi.”
Verma allegedly made the controversial remark at an event organised to inaugurate the BJP’s election office at Madipur assembly segment for their candidate Kailash Sankhla.
While Verma claimed he had called Kejriwal a “Naxalite” and not a terrorist, the chief minister he was saddened.
Kejriwal said he was dismayed over the BJP leader’s comment . “I have been working day and night for (the development of) Delhi for the last five years. I gave up everything for the people of Delhi. After joining politics, I faced many difficulties so that I could improve the lives of the people. Today in return, the Bharatiya Janata Party is calling me a terrorist ... It is very sad,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Later in the evening, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lodged a complaint before the chief electoral officer (CEO) Delhi against Verma, demanding the registration of an FIR against him.
“Parvesh Verma has openly called Arvind Kejriwal as a terrorist. This is an allegation aimed at tarnishing the image of a democratically elected chief minister. This is a blatant violation of model code of conduct… It is requested that an FIR be registered against Verma and CEO Delhi may ban him from campaigning in Delhi assembly elections 2020,” the letter read.
Verma denied calling Kejriwal a terrorist. “I never called him a terrorist. I had said that he is a Naxalite,” the BJP MP said.
Verma was removed from the BJP’s list of star campaigners on Wednesday on the Election Commission of India’s orders following an interview to news agency ANI in which he said: “Lakhs of people gather there (Shaheen Bagh). People of Delhi will have to think and take a decision. They will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters, kill them.”
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh hit out at the BJP on Wednesday. “The BJP is continuously using objectionable language against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. By calling Arvind Kejriwal a terrorist, the BJP has insulted two crore people of Delhi. People will give reply to the BJP on February 8,” Singh told reporters.
MP RECEIVES THREATS FOR STATEMENTS
West Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Verma on Wednesday alleged that he got call from an unknown number threatening him and his family. Police said they have received a complaint and are looking into it.
A senior police officer, who did not wish to be named, said that Verma had received the call at around 8am on Wednesday. The caller allegedly warned him that if he continued to speak against a particular community, “you will be taken care of”.
Deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi) Eish Singhal said Verma approached them with a written complaint. “We are looking into the matter,” the DCP said.