BJP’s protest over renovation of CM Kejriwal’s residence a dud AAP
New Delhi, May 3 (PTI) The Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP on Wednesday called for an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi after opposition parties called for an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi, alleging excessive expenditure on renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence.
While the ruling Aam Aadmi Party said the protest had turned out to be a sham and even BJP workers did not participate, the opposition countered that Arvind Kejriwal government ministers were trying to mislead people by spreading lies.
The BJP has been attacking Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party, alleging that between 2020 and 2022 the chief minister spent Rs 45 crore on renovating his official residence.
On Monday, Kejriwal started an indefinite dharna near his 6, Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines residence, demanding that his bungalow be thrown open to the public so that they can see his “luxurious life”.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Durgesh Pathak said there was no support among the people of Delhi for the hunger strike because the BJP was “indulging in false politics”.
“Bharatiya Nautanki Party knows only plays. Their indefinite fast has been a complete failure. We clicked pictures at 8.30, 9.30 and 10.30 this morning and there was no one at the protest site,” said the Aam Aadmi Party leader.
“Leave aside the people of Delhi, even the BJP did not participate in the strike because they knew that the saffron party was indulging in false politics,” Pathak added.
Responding to this, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapur said the revelation of corruption related to the beautification of the Chief Minister’s official bungalow at a cost of Rs 45 crore has stunned the ruling party leaders.
“Delhi BJP’s campaign and dharna has raised the anger of Aam Aadmi Party and now AAP minister Saurabh Bhardwaj has been making false claims on Twitter since morning,” he said.
Kapoor said that Bhardwaj had tarnished the dignity of his ministerial post.
At an AAP press conference, Pathak said the people of Delhi had rejected the BJP in the Assembly and MCD elections because they “love their son Arvind Kejriwal”.
“Today, I called a BJP worker and asked him why he was not participating in the party’s protest. The BJP worker said that those who are on hunger strike are involved in drama,” he said.
Pathak said the BJP worker he spoke to agreed that Kejriwal’s private house had not been renovated and that the renovation was done in his official residence built in 1942.
The Aam Aadmi Party leader asked the BJP to share the list of those on an indefinite fast. “Today is the third day, and by this time, a person on an indefinite fast starts losing weight, his ketone levels increase and his blood pressure changes,” he said.
“The medical bulletin of these people should be released by this evening,” Pathak added.
If they need help, a team of doctors will be sent to conduct a medical examination and issue a bulletin, the Aam Aadmi Party MLA said.
If the BJP fails to do so, it will prove that the strike is a failed operation and “nothing but drama”, he alleged.
While the BJP is trying to sideline Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party on the restructuring issue, ruling party leaders have accused the BJP of trying to divert attention from the more pressing issues facing the country.
