New Delhi (India): The political tensions in Delhi ahead of the February 5 elections escalated on Wednesday as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal sharply criticized BJP leader Parvesh Verma for remarks that he deemed “insulting” to the Punjabi community.
Kejriwal, the national convener of AAP, took to social media, pointing out that Delhi is home to lakhs of Punjabis whose ancestors made immense sacrifices for the nation. “There are lakhs of Punjabis living in Delhi whose families and ancestors have made countless sacrifices for the country. Many Punjabi refugees also live in Delhi, having left everything behind during partition,” Kejriwal wrote on X.
Referring to the controversial statement made by BJP leader Verma, who raised concerns over security and the presence of Punjab-registered vehicles in Delhi ahead of the Republic Day, Kejriwal condemned the remarks as an affront to the martyrdom and sacrifice of Punjabis. “By calling Punjabis a threat to the country, the BJP has insulted lakhs of Punjabis living in Delhi. BJP should apologize to the Punjabis,” Kejriwal said.
This conflict follows BJP’s Parvesh Verma’s statement, in which he expressed concerns about the large number of vehicles with Punjab registration numbers seen in New Delhi, coinciding with the Republic Day festivities. He suggested that the presence of such vehicles could pose security risks.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who was in Delhi for a rally to support AAP candidates, responded to the allegations, emphasizing that the BJP’s remarks were deeply offensive. “Every Punjabi is feeling extremely pained by this. It is not right to question the patriotism of the people of Punjab,” said Mann.
As Delhi prepares for the upcoming election, the contest is expected to be a three-way race between AAP, BJP, and Congress. Delhi, which will vote on February 5, has witnessed a dominant AAP in recent elections, with the party securing 62 out of 70 seats in the 2020 assembly polls.