The political battle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensified on Wednesday as the two parties traded accusations amidst the escalating Delhi election campaign. While BJP criticized former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his “failed promises,” AAP accused BJP of plotting to demolish temples, stirring a heated controversy.
In a post on X, Kejriwal alleged, “On one hand, BJP is strongly opposing the payment of honorarium to priests and granthis and on the other hand, it is preparing to demolish temples. People are very angry about this.”
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also attacked BJP over the issue, claiming that the Religious Committee, now under the jurisdiction of the Lieutenant Governor (LG), had decided to demolish several temples in a meeting held on November 22, 2024.
“Earlier the ‘Religious Committee’ used to come under the elected government. After LG sahab’s order last year, it comes directly under LG sahab. On November 22, the Religious Committee took the decision to demolish several temples. On one hand, Arvind Kejriwal ji is bringing Pujari-Granthi Samman Yojana, on the other hand, BJP is bent on demolishing temples,” Atishi said in a post on X.
Atishi further appealed to the BJP-led Central Government, stating, “These religious places are related to people’s faith; don’t destroy the faith of millions of people by demolishing them.”
During a press conference, she accused BJP of hypocrisy. “The dual face of BJP is revealed through such orders. They pretend to protect Hinduism but secretly instruct their appointed officers and LG to demolish temples.”
BJP’s Response:
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi criticized AAP and its leader Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that he had failed to deliver on key promises made to Delhi’s residents. “In today’s politics, the most challenging thing is a ‘crisis of credibility.’ The Aam Aadmi Party came with the vision to bring new politics, but Kejriwal has done the opposite of what he promised,” Trivedi said.
He cited 10 unfulfilled promises, including issues of live wires, 24×7 clean water, a world-class education system, women’s safety, and pollution control. Trivedi also claimed that BJP and NDA, under PM Narendra Modi, had restored credibility in politics, unlike AAP.
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal also accused Kejriwal of engaging in “political stunts.” “He is an expert at making announcements. First, he promised money for Imams, which he couldn’t fulfill, and now he targets Pujaris and Granthis. Their treasury is empty, and this is all for electoral benefits,” Khandelwal said.
Election Climate:
The escalating war of words comes as both parties gear up for the upcoming Delhi Assembly Elections, with poll dates expected to be announced soon. While AAP defends its track record and accuses BJP of undermining public faith, BJP continues to highlight what it calls AAP’s governance failures.
The political tussle, centered on faith and promises, is shaping the narrative as Delhi heads into an intensely contested election season.