Arvind Kejriwal’s speech irks BJP

The Gujarat unit of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has complained to the Election Commission of India and sought action against Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal for his “unparliamentary and anarchic” speech at Gandhidham in Kutch district on March 6 during his four-day visit to the state that concluded on Saturday.

Gujarat BJP chief R C Faldu, who has also submitted an audio tape on his speech, has in his complaint to the poll panel said that Kejriwal statements not only violated the model code of conduct but also were punishable under the India Penal Code.

“Addressing a public meeting at Gandhidham, Kejriwal had said ‘Gujarat mein ya to dara dete hain ya maar dete hain’ (they terrorise you or kill you in Gujarat), referring to Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Such a statement is an offence under the provisions of sections 171F and 171G of the IPC,” stated the BJP plaint.

According to Faldu, Kejriwal attempted to influence the elections with a malafide intention by making false statements with a view to creating hatred for rival parties among the people.

He told Khaleej Times that his party had decided to boycott NDTV after the channel ‘manufactured’ BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s tweet that she was not happy with Modi’s plan to contest the Varanasi seat.

NDTV had said, “Sushma has tweeted - if there’s Narendra Modi wave in country why he is searching for safe seat in UP?”

The saffron party will not participate in the NDTV’s panel discussion.

mahesh@khaleejtimes.com