 |
|
The political climate in Delhi is heating up as the Assembly elections approach, and a recent incident involving Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has ignited a firestorm of accusations and counter-accusations. Three young men allege that Kejriwal's car intentionally struck them during a campaign rally in the New Delhi constituency. The injured men claim they were attempting to speak with Kejriwal about job opportunities when the incident occurred. Their central allegation is that Kejriwal, through a gesture, directed his driver to hit them with the vehicle. This serious claim casts a long shadow over the already tense political atmosphere of the approaching election.
The injured individuals, identified as Vishal, Rohit, and another unnamed youth, are currently receiving medical treatment at Lady Hardinge Medical College. Vishal recounted that he and his companions approached Kejriwal to inquire about job prospects. He alleges that instead of engaging in conversation, Kejriwal signaled his driver to hit them with the vehicle. Rohit corroborated this account, confirming the injuries he sustained and echoing the claim that Kejriwal orchestrated the incident. Both men emphasize their status as voters in the New Delhi constituency, adding weight to their assertion that this was a deliberate act targeting constituents. The conflicting accounts, with the victims alleging a deliberate act and Kejriwal's supporters refuting the claims, create a complex scenario that warrants thorough investigation. The police should immediately step in to investigate the claim and gather evidence from witnesses as well as medical professionals.
The incident has rapidly escalated into a bitter exchange between the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP leader and New Delhi constituency candidate, Pravesh Verma, visited the injured youths in the hospital. Verma launched a scathing attack on the AAP, alleging that Punjab Police (potentially deployed to provide security to Kejriwal) had beaten the youths before the alleged car incident. He further accused Kejriwal of directing the driver to run them over, characterizing the incident as an attempted murder. Verma's claims, if proven true, could significantly damage Kejriwal’s reputation and influence the election results. However, this accusation remains subject to investigation and verification, underscoring the need for transparent and thorough scrutiny of all the conflicting claims.
In response, the AAP accused the BJP of instigating the incident, claiming that BJP goons pelted stones at Kejriwal during the same campaign rally. AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar called for immediate action from the Election Commission, accusing them of turning a blind eye to the violence. The AAP’s counter-accusations paint a picture of coordinated harassment and violence aimed at disrupting Kejriwal's campaign. This claim, as with Verma’s accusations, requires substantial evidence to verify. The contrasting narratives between the AAP and BJP underscore the highly charged political environment, where accusations and counter-accusations fly freely, potentially obscuring the truth.
The conflicting accounts from the injured youths, the AAP, and the BJP paint a complex and disturbing picture. This incident highlights the need for a comprehensive and impartial investigation to determine the truth of what happened. The Election Commission has a crucial role to play in ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process, and the police are responsible for investigating this allegation of violence and potentially issuing charges against the individuals involved, irrespective of their political affiliations. Until the findings of these investigations are released and fully understood, the public will be left to weigh the conflicting accounts and arrive at their own conclusions. The impact of this incident on the Delhi elections, already fraught with tension, remains to be seen, but its potential to influence voter opinion is undeniable.