Published on: April 03, 2024 at 15:04 IST
The political battleground in Delhi intensifies as the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) takes legal action against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and minister Atishi. The BJP has sent a defamation notice to Atishi following her claims of being approached by BJP representatives with a request to switch sides.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva addressed the media today, asserting the party’s stance. He demanded a public apology from Atishi, emphasizing her failure to provide evidence regarding the alleged approach. Sachdeva dismissed Atishi’s allegations as baseless and attributed them to the AAP’s internal crisis and frustration. He affirmed the BJP’s determination not to let Atishi’s claims go unchallenged.
Atishi, in a press conference held yesterday, accused the BJP of approaching her through a close intermediary and pressuring her to join the party, purportedly to safeguard her political career. She further claimed that failure to comply could result in her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) within a month. Moreover, she asserted that several other AAP leaders, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, Raghav Chadha, and Durgesh Pathak, might face arrest in the coming months.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Atishi alleged that the BJP had orchestrated a plan to incarcerate AAP leaders systematically, citing instances of prominent AAP figures who have faced legal action. Sanjay Singh, who was arrested, has been granted bail and is set to be released today.
In response to Atishi’s allegations, Virendra Sachdeva challenged her to provide her phone for investigation to substantiate her claims. Additionally, the BJP’s legal counsel announced the issuance of a defamation notice to Atishi, characterizing her statements as false, defamatory, and concocted. The lawyer emphasized that further legal action would ensue if Atishi failed to validate her assertions.
The confrontation between the BJP and AAP in Delhi escalates as both parties engage in a battle of words and legal maneuvers, setting the stage for heightened political tension in the region.