New Delhi [India]: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal responded to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s criticism of the Delhi government’s handling of law and order, asserting that the responsibility for the capital’s security lies with the Union Home Ministry.
Speaking to the media, Kejriwal said, “Yogi ji came to Delhi today. He too raised questions on the law and order in Delhi. He said that he mended the law and order in UP. I agree with Yogi ji that Delhi’s law and order is very bad. Eleven gangsters have captured the entire Delhi. Yogi ji said that he wiped out gangsters in UP. But in Delhi, gangsters are roaming around freely. Firing is taking place on streets. Women can’t step out of their houses.”
Kejriwal emphasized that Union Home Minister Amit Shah oversees law and order in Delhi and suggested that Yogi Adityanath guide Shah on improving the situation. “Amit Shah is busy toppling governments and poaching MLAs,” he alleged.
The comments were a response to Yogi Adityanath’s earlier remarks during a rally in Janakpuri, where he accused the AAP government of failing to address issues such as illegal migration and lawlessness. He alleged that the AAP instigated riots in 2020 with the help of “Bangladeshi infiltrators.”
“With the help of Bangladeshi infiltrators, their councillors and officials instigated riots in 2020. They created chaos and hooliganism in Shaheen Bagh. Today, if you look at the states where the BJP’s double-engine government is in power, you will find a clean environment there. Form a double-engine government in Delhi and move towards making Delhi Indraprastha again,” CM Yogi stated.
Political Context:
The exchange comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, set for February 5, with results to be announced on February 8. AAP is looking to retain its dominance after sweeping the 2015 and 2020 elections with 67 and 62 seats, respectively, out of 70. Meanwhile, the BJP is working to improve its past performances, where it secured only three and eight seats in the last two elections.
The Congress, once dominant in Delhi with 15 years of consecutive rule, has been unable to secure a single seat in the last two elections.