BJP questions Kejriwal on choice of candidates and VAT raids

BJP on Monday sought a clarification from the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP over the choice of some of its candidates, whom it alleged had Naxal links, and also on the "VAT raids" during his 49-day stint as the chief minister.

Directing yet another bunch of five questions for the AAP leader, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said he is trying to "mislead" the people of the city on the basis of "rumours" and by making false promises. It asked what was Kejriwal's relationship with private electricity companies and alleged that he had first "given them subsidies" by diverting money from SC/ST welfare funds to further deceive Delhi voters.

BJP also asked what was the relationship between Kejriwal and the other "convicted, accused, underground and overground Naxals". The saffron party also accused Kejriwal of "persistently disrespecting" institutions in the country and even the media and asked why was he doing so.

BJP further asked why AAP had given a ticket to a candidate in the Okhla constituency as it alleged that he "was a known associate of 2008 Delhi and Ahmedabad bomb blasts accused Zia-ur-Rahman and himself faces grave charges under IPC".

Finally, it asked if Kejriwal was a "person with anti- trader mindset" as it accused him of purposefully trying to deceive them through advertisements that no VAT raids took place during his regime. BJP claimed that "151 raids" took place in his 49-day tenure.

Meanwhile, some Congress and AAP members joined BJP today.