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AAP-BJP’s deathly duel

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Arvind Kejriwal

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Why the AAP imbroglio is more than an internal squabble

By Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr

Many Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters, who are also ardent anti-BJP people, have been puzzled, confused and even distraught over the B-grade Hindi film plot unfolding on the AAP front. The disclosure of sacked water minister Kapil Mishra that he had seen health minister Satyendra Jain offering a Rs 2-crore bribe to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is both murky and ridiculous. And this is preceded by the twist of Kumar Vishwas, the poet-demagogue of the party being pacified by Kejriwal even as he sacked Vishwas-acolyte Mishra, and how Vishwas-baiter Amanullah Khan is dropped from the ministry but given the chairmanship of legislative committees. Is Kejriwal engaged in the acrobatics of keeping all the balls in the air?

There is reason to believe in the conspiracy theory that the BJP might be fishing in troubled waters as it were. After the victory in the Delhi municipal elections last month, it is natural that the aggressive BJP is looking out for ways of pushing AAP to the brink. It had been trying to do that by harassing the Kejriwal government through former Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, though the present L-G Anil Baijal is lying low for the moment. It can be the case that some disgruntled elements and other opportunists in the AAP may have been offered enough incentives to rock the AAP boat. It would be naïve to blame the BJP for trying to break up the AAP. That is part of politics – cunning, intrigue, and a bit of foul play too. So, it is not surprising that Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, the Bhojpuri film actor-turned-political hero, should promptly demand the resignation of Kejriwal on moral grounds after Mishra’s bribe charge.

The AAP-BJP rivalry is bitter because the two are in many ways ideological twins. This is something that Delhi’s middle-class worshippers of AAP tend to forget. AAP and the BJP occupy the same political ground of lower middle class self-righteousness and nationalist piety. AAP’s success undermines the BJP, and it holds true conversely as well. That is why, the buzz from Punjab assembly election was that the BJP had preferred a Congress victory rather than AAP’s and that it has even facilitated Congress’ win by transferring its vote to its ostensible rival.

It is reasonable to infer that apart from consolidating its Hindutva constituency of the lower middle classes through its religious and nationalist appeal, and attracting the poor through its economic populism, the BJP wants to divide the opposition, break up the other parties when those parties are facing internal dissent. The BJP has managed to weaken the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) by admitting some of the leaders who walked away from the party in the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. It is wooing members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha who are not happy with Navin Patnaik lording it over the state and the party, and it is turning the heat on members of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), who are caught in wrongdoing. It is not then surprising that BJP is looking to take advantage of trouble inside AAP.

The BJP has a special negative bonding with the AAP because both of them are strong anti-corruption proponents, and it essentially turns out to be an anti-Congress offensive. AAP subscribes to the same nationalist fervour as does the BJP. In electoral terms, the two parties appeal to the same lower middle class constituency.

It is not surprising then that each wants the other out. While AAP has not done anything so far to undermine the BJP support base, BJP has been quite sore with AAP’s Delhi assembly success and it is using every dirty trick – it is more an amoral rather than immoral approach – in the book to attack AAP.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Delhi LG VK Saxena directs probe into remarks against Kangana Ranaut by Congress leader Supriya Shrinate

The Delhi Police will investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose.

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Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today sought a detailed probe from Delhi Police commissioner Sanjay Arora in relation with the alleged defamatory social media post made by Congress’s Supriya Shrinate against actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut.

Reportedly, BJP candidate from New Delhi Bansuri Swaraj had given a complaint to the LG seeking probe and registration of an FIR against Shrinate for outraging the modesty of a woman. Subsequently, the Delhi LG has forwarded the complaint to the Delhi Police Commissioner, directing a scientific investigation in the matter and initiation of legal action, if necessary.

Reports said that the Delhi Police will also investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose. A major controversy erupted on Monday after an objectionable post from Supriya Shrinate’s social media handle against Kangana Ranaut, who has been announced as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi.

Responding to the remarks, Kangana Ranaut said that they must free the daughters from the shackles of prejudices and must rise above the curiosity about their body parts. She added that people must refrain from using sex workers’ challenging lives or circumstances as some kind of abuse or slur. She concluded that every woman deserves her dignity. As the controversy intensified, the Congress leader asserted that someone else had posted the objectionable content from her handle. 

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for her derogatory remarks against Kangana Ranaut. The Election Commission observed that the remarks are undignified and in a bad taste. The election body asked the Congress leader to respond to the commission by Friday. In the notice, the Election Commission stated that the statements made by the leader is prima facie violative of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being in force ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

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Bollywood actor Govinda joins Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now.

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Bollywood actor Govinda joined Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Thursday ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. In 2004 Govinda contested from Mumbai North Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket and earned the nickname of a giant slayer as he defeated BJP’s Ram Naik. He resigned from the party and said that he had decided to take a break from politics.

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now. He said his parents had a good relationship with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hedge met the Bollywood actor at his residence in Juhu. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said the actor’s joining the Shiv Sena does not come with a rider. Govinda said whatever work is assigned to him, he will do it to the best of the ability. He said he was a part of the 14th Lok Sabha and has returned to politics after 14 years.

Speaking about his role in politics, the actor said he would transform the film city of Mumbai. He did not reply when he was asked about contesting elections. Govinda said everybody has seen the same level of progress in Maharashtra in the last 2 years, as it has been seen in the country in the last 10 years. He said he is going to focus on the beautification of the state and work towards the growth of art and culture.

Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora welcomed Govida into the party and said he has known the veteran Bollywood actor for almost 25 years. He recalled the 2004 election and said both of them had fought elections together.

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Delhi Court extends ED custody of CM Arvind Kejriwal till April 1

CM Kejriwal made a submission in front of the court, where he said that in the 31,000 page document prepared by the ED, there is no concrete proof or allegations against him on the basis of which he has been arrested.

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The Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday has extended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 1. The Chief Minister will remain in custody till Monday, after which he will be presented in front of the court bench for further proceedings in the case.

The court has passed its order for the extension of the remand in the money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy, being investigated by the ED for the last two years. Arvind Kejriwal is the fourth Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to be arrested in this case. Previously, Satyendar Jain, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh were arrested in the same case. 

During the hearing today, the ED argued that Arvind Kejriwal needs to be brought face to face with some of the accused in the excise policy case. The ED further said that the data in one of the mobile phones, belonging to Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita, was extracted and is being analyzed.

Nonetheless, data from the other 4 digital devices seized during search at Arvind Kejriwal’s premises on March 21 are yet to be extracted as the arrestee has sought time to provide password/login credentials after consulting with his lawyers.

In its fresh remand plea, the investigation agency said that during Arvind Kejriwal’s custodial interrogation, his statements were recorded on five days and that he was giving evasive replies. It further said the statements of three other persons have also been recorded during the remand.

CM Kejriwal made a submission in front of the court on Thursday, where he said that in the 31,000 page document prepared by the ED, there is no concrete proof or allegations against him on the basis of which he has been arrested.

Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal said on March 28 that the AAP national convener is not keeping well and is being harassed a lot while in ED custody over the past week. She asserted that the Chief Minister is being harassed a lot and his sugar levels are fluctuating.

CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 and was sent to 7-days of custody. His arrest has triggered protests in the national capital and the nearby northern state of Punjab, which is also governed by AAP, over the last few days.

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