‘CM must quit’: BJP launches ‘anti-corruption’ campaign

DEMANDING THE resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a case linked to the alleged excise policy scam, the BJP on Sunday launched its ‘Sharab se sheesh mahal’ campaign at Connaught Place.

Delhi BJP leaders and workers staged a protest outside Palika market on Sunday, while using a purported replica model of the CM’S official bungalow, calling it ‘Sheeshmahal’, and alleging irregularities in its construction. A selfie point ‘Sh arab se she eshm ah al’ was also set up at the protest venue, with liquor bottle-shaped cutouts of other AAP leaders — including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh — accused in the case.

As part of their protest, BJP workers on Sunday also distributed “anti-corruption” pamphlets to the public near Metro gates across the national capital.

Delhi BJP Office Secretary Brijesh Rai, and Media Head Praveen Shankar Kapoor — the moderators — claimed that the INDI Alliance rally in support of Kejriwal at Ramleela Maidan last Sunday (March 31) recorded a “low turnout”, while a hunger strike organised in solidarity with the CM at Jantar Mantar on Sunday also “remained empty”.

Addressing the protesters on Sunday, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, referring to the CM’S House, accused Kejriwal of constructing the ‘Taj Mahal of corruption’ — built by using the taxpayer’s hard-earned money.

“The journey from sharab (alcohol) se sheesh mahal is a testimony to how Arvind Kejriwal has plundered the people of Delhi...” He said: “As soon as he came to power, Kejriwal focused on big mansions... and during the Covid pandemic, he neglected public services and built his sheesh mahal bungalow,” he said.

Sachdeva further alleged that AAP leaders are facing an “inhouse conflict” at present. “...The liquor scam happened ... the whole party knows it, but no one is accepting it. instead, they are sweeping their mistakes under the carpet and blaming each other .”

Emphasising on the required “collective accountability” within AAP, BJP co-incharge Dr Alka Gurjar said: “The journey from alcohol to sheesh mahal is not for an ordinary person, but a special one... Rather than working for the public, they looted crores of rupees for their own comfort.”

BJP national spokesperson Shazia Ilmi, said: “The fasting by the AAP today (Sunday) is to save corrupt people ... i’ m ashamed that we stood by such people when their foundation was being laid. We rightly left them... It (AAP) began with self-governance, and ended up with alcohol.”

Delhi BJP vice-president Kapil Mishra said: “Repentance for Kejriwal’s sins will not be concluded from fasting for a day... the entire party has committed so many sins that even fasting for a lifetime won’t absolve them.”

Abhinav Saha Delhi BJP leaders and workers staged a protest outside Palika market on Sunday.