Arvind Kejriwal Says BJP Trying To 'Finish' AAP Under 'Operation Jhaadu'

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed on Sunday that the BJP is attempting to “finish” Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under “Operation Jhaadu”, alleging that the ruling party at the center doesn’t want it to “grow big and become a challenge for them.”

“Through ‘Operation Jhaadu’, AAP’s big leaders will be arrested. They are being arrested and in the coming days, AAP’s bank accounts will be frozen. ED’s lawyer has already given this statement in court that soon after the election AAP’s bank accounts will be frozen,” the AAP National Convener said. This allegation comes as AAP plans to take out a demonstration outside BJP headquarters following the arrest of Kejriwal aide Bibhav Kumar.

‘They will freeze our accounts’

In the presence of senior party leaders Raghav Chadha and Atishi, Kejriwal also alleged that after the Lok Sabha elections BJP “will freeze our accounts, our office will be cleared out and we will be brought to streets.” “Since I came to power in 2015, how many allegations did they (BJP) raise?” These remarks came a day after Bibhav was sent to five days in police custody in connection with the alleged assault on Swati Maliwal after a late-night court hearing on Saturday.

Kejriwal, who is out on interim bail in the excise policy case, had said on Saturday that he and other AAP leaders would go to the BJP headquarters on May 19 “so that the prime minister can send anyone he wishes to jail”. “They are after our party and sending our leaders to jail one after another… Today you have sent my PA (Bibhav Kumar) to jail,” he said. “We will peacefully march to the BJP headquarters and if the police stop us, we will sit at that spot. We will wait for half an hour and see if they arrest us. If they do not arrest us, it will be their defeat. You can send us all in jail and see for yourself if the party ends or it rises more,” he said.

Given a protest announced by AAP’s national convenor, the Delhi Police has beefed up security at the BJP headquarters. The traffic police have also issued an advisory because of the protest planned outside the BJP office on the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. “In view of the proposed protest by a political party at DDU Marg Delhi, Traffic will remain heavy at DDU Marg, IP Marg, Minto Road and Vikas Marg. DDU marg may be closed for traffic movement between 11 am to 2 pm. Kindly avoid these roads and plan your journey accordingly,” the traffic police in a post on X. A senior police officer said security at the BJP headquarters has been heightened as a precautionary measure.

(With agency inputs)

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