Liquid Thrown At Arvind Kejriwal During Padyatra In Delhi, Accused Detained | Video – News18

Last Updated:November 30, 2024, 23:23 IST

Kejriwal was holding a foot march in Delhi’s Greater Kailash area on Saturday evening when an individual allegedly tried to throw a liquid, which AAP claimed to be acid.

An individual on Saturday was held and arrested after he attempted to attack former Delhi Chief minister and party’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal by throwing a liquid at him.

Kejriwal was holding a foot march in Delhi’s Greater Kailash area and was greeting people standing behind a cordon when an individual approached him and splashed some liquid on him, following which the security personnel swiftly overpowered him. Kejriwal and the security personnel accompanying him were later seen wiping their faces.

What Police Said?

The police identified the attacker as Ashok Jha who works as a bus marshal at Khanpur Depot. The police said that Jha attempted to throw water on Kejriwal, but was immediately caught as the police staff was in close proximity along with the barricaded ropes.

“During Arvind Kejriwal’s Padyatra under Malviya Nagar PS area, at around 05:50 PM, while shaking hands with the public, suddenly, a person namely Ashok Jha attempted to throw water on Arvind Kejriwal, but he was immediately caught as the police staff was nearby along with ropes. The said attempt was foiled and the person was detained. The alleged person is serving as a Bus Marshal at Khanpur Depot. Further examination of the person is in progress to find out the reasons behind this act,” the Delhi Police said.

AAP Alleges BJP’s Hand Behind Attack

However, AAP alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was responsible for this attack.

“Kejriwal was attacked by BJP during his march for raising questions on the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi. Amit Shah’s failure has once again become public knowledge, there is no rule of law in Delhi but the rule of BJP goons. If a former Chief Minister is not safe in the country’s capital, then what will happen to the common man? Delhi’s law and order situation has completely collapsed under BJP rule,” the party claimed.

Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj has warned the saffron party of the consequences if something happens to Kejriwal. While sharing an image of the alleged attacker, Bhardwaj claimed that the former is directly linked with the BJP.

He further claimed that the attacker wanted to set Kejriwal on fire after throwing spirit on him on him during his Padyatra campaign.

A man threw spirit on him (Kejriwal). We could smell it. And there was an attempt to burn him (Kejriwal) alive.

“The man was carrying spirit in one hand and a matchbox in the other hand. He threw spirit that fell on Kejriwal and me… but he could not start the fire. Our alert volunteers and the public caught him,” Bharadwaj claimed in a press conference.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said that BJP’s dirty politics stooped too low by attacking Kejriwal as it is afraid of being defeated for the third time in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. She warned that the people of Delhi will teach a lesson to BJP. “BJP people: Delhi people will take revenge for such cheap acts. Last time they got 8 seats, this time Delhi people will give zero seats to BJP,” she said in a post on X.

Several other leaders including, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and party MLA Naresh Balyan also condemned the attack and traded barbs at BJP.

“Today Arvind Kejriwal was attacked by a BJP goon. Yesterday he raised questions on the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi and today he was attacked cowardly. This act shows how the BJP has become nervous when questions are raised about law and order. But BJP people, be careful. His name is Arvind Kejriwal. He is not going to be scared of the attacks by your goons,” Sisodia said on X.

“Just now a BJP worker tried to throw acid on Arvind Kejriwal in Greater Kailash. Imagine the condition the BJP has created in Delhi, an attempt was made to throw acid on the president of a national party and a former CM,” Balyan said on X.

BJP Reacts

The saffron party refuted the AAP’s claims saying that this is pre-planned PR stunt of the AAP itself in a bid to gain sympathy. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that Kejriwal gets himself slapped and get things thrown at him.

“I have been saying since day 1 that Arvind Kejriwal will get himself slapped and get things thrown at him… As per the information, it was just water and the person is their local worker. He has been caught in an intoxicated state. This is a political drama. This is disappointment and hopelessness… Nothing is working now so they are making such cliche moves… Police should take action against whoever is caught. The investigation will reveal that he is a worker of the Aam Aadmi Party…” he said.

BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said Kejriwal has gone back to doing his “old trick” with an eye on the Delhi assembly election which is due early next year.

“Arvind Kejriwal’s every political strategy has failed. Now he will return to using his old tricks, in which he is slapped and ink is thrown at him. A similar thing happened today. Arvind Kejriwal should tell himself what new game he started today,” Kapoor said.

BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat said that such incidents tend to happen when any political leader takes out any foot march. Although, she condemned the attack, she said that people are upset with AAP government because people are enraged because the streets are broken, drains are overflowing and the pollution level is high.

“Whenever a leader goes for a Padyatra, he comes in a very close proximity with the people. Hence, such incidents happen even after strong security. But it is the mistake of that person. He should have asked his question instead of doing this. The people are enraged because the streets are broken, drains are overflowing and the pollution level is high… The Delhi government has failed to fulfil the huge promises it made. The people are losing their patience but I request the people to speak through their votes instead… The police should take action against that person…” ANI quoted Sehrawat as saying.

Earlier Attacks

Last month, a similar attack took place when some miscreants allegedly tried to attack the party chief during a foot march in West Delhi’s Vikaspuri area.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders including Kejriwal are undertaking padyatras (foot marches) in different assembly segments in the city in run-up to the February 2025 polls.