On Friday, during a padayatra in Kirari, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal complained of facing his third attack in just over a month now. A liquid said to be water, was flung at him while addressing the gathering as part of his ongoing campaign.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who identified it as “an organized attempt to put a gag on him,” said that this only carries out the more prominent conspiracy to eliminate.
This attack happened during Kejriwal’s Padayatra, responsible for communicating local issues while seeking public support. The Delhi CM and other AAP leaders have claimed the attack was a “deep conspiracy” orchestrated to scare him.
According to AAP, this turned into an incident where someone had gotten assaulted three times in 35 days other than this incident of assaulting physically and sabotage attempts.
AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, have accused opposition parties of orchestrating these attacks to undermine his charisma and progressive governance model. They allege that such acts are attempts to “eliminate” Kejriwal politically and physically.
On the other hand, opposition parties, including the BJP, have dismissed these claims as “drama” staged for political gain. BJP leaders accused of associating with AAP of using such incidents to garner sympathy votes ahead of the elections.
This latest attack has raised concerns about public figures’ safety in mass engagement. AAP has sought a probe into the incident and demanded enhanced security for Kejriwal. The Delhi Police were, however, yet to establish the attacker’s identity and decision. No arrests were reported at the time of writing.
Such frequency raises questions about Delhi’s political atmosphere and public officials’ safety during electoral campaigns. Kejriwal’s padayatra attracted large crowds, but it has also been a flashpoint for such disruptions, representing a highly polarized political climate.
AAP’s Response and Allegations
The incident has increased the friction between AAP and BJP even further. While Kejriwal blames the attack on the opposition parties, BJP leaders dismissed the allegations, calling this “an AAP gimmick to gain sympathy votes ahead of elections.”
Political Fallout
“BJP Delhi spokesperson Harish Khurana added, ‘Kejriwal should not put on a victim’s act. He should do something for good governance and shed such dramatics.’ The accusation highlights the acrid polarizations in Delhi’s political atmosphere.
The recurrent incidents have raised the alarm about security cover during public campaigns. Political analysts have cited the vulnerabilities leaders encounter in public forums such as padyatras. While mass interactions build up direct connections with voters, they also have the potential to be deadly.
While the Delhi police have commenced an inquiry into the recent incident, they have not confirmed the attacker’s identity or motives. In the meantime, AAP has called for stricter protocols to ensure safety in public events.
