No question of giving support or taking support from BJP: Kejriwal
New Delhi – Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said there is no question of his political outfit giving or taking support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), even as both are determined not to come forward to form the next government in national capital Delhi in a minority capacity.
“There is no question of giving or taking support from the BJP. Why can’t the BJP and the Congress agree to a coalition arrangement and form the next government in Delhi. Both of them espouse the same ideology, so I don’t see why they are having a problem,” said Kejriwal.
Stating that the AAP had had a meeting this morning and that he was going in for several more meetings during the day to chalk out future strategies, Kejriwal reiterated that the AAP is a very small political party that was yet to establish itself in the minds of the people as a viable alternative to the Congress and the BJP.
“I am appealing to all people, all sections of society, all right thinking and honest people to come forward and use this historic occasion and result to make a difference, to bring in a good administrative system, promote good governance,” said Kejriwal.
On the Lokpal Bill, the AAP leader said he was all for a Jan Lokpal Bill, not just a Lokpal Bill that did not bring the Prime Minister, Ministers or the CBI within its purview.
He also said that AAP would reveal its plans for the 2014 general elections in due course.
He also endorsed fellow AAP leader and lawyer Prashant Bhushan’s clarification on the extension of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), if they passed the Jan Lokpal Bill before December 29.
Bhushan said earlier this morning that he made his statement in a rhetorical context.
“What I said in a rhetorical context, where I meant to say that if BJP develops the same ideologies like AAP and starts doing things the way our party does, which is not possible, we might consider extending our support,” Bhushan said.
“We have always maintained that the AAP will neither extend their support to the BJP or the Congress and we will stick to it,” he added.
Kejriwal also said that AAP has taken a serious view of a reported incident involving one of the party’s winning candidate’s, Dharmendra Koli.
Koli, who won the elections from the Seemapuri constituency of Delhi,has been accused of molesting a woman.
According to the complainant, Koli allegedly molested the wife of one of the candidates he defeated on Sunday.
Police sources said the complainant alleged that on Sunday afternoon, Dharmender and his party workers were celebrating outside the rival’s house. The woman’s husband objected to Dharmender bursting crackers outside their house and this led to a scuffle.
According to the FIR, Dharmender and his supporters allegedly barged into the house, molested the woman and threatened her. They then fled the spot, the FIR stated.
Following the incident, police were informed and a case under IPC sections relating to molestation, trespass, criminal intimidation, rioting and unlawful assembly was registered at Seemapuri police station.
Police said no arrest has been made so far.
Responding to the incident, Kejriwal said that AAP is looking into the matter.
“Koli is a young boy. He should not have been celebrating his victory in the polls. Rather, he should have accepted the result with grace and humility and begun his promise of serving the people of his constituency and the city. We will be talking to him and will be firmly telling him what is expected of him as an AAP representative. We don’t endorse what he has done, and if he has done it. We will be guiding him. Service to the people is the key, is the goal,” said Kejriwal.
