A day after AAP convener and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal targeting the Centre and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged rise in crimes in Delhi and turning it into a "gangster capital", the BJP on Saturday hit back and alleged that AAP is involved in serious criminal activities, accusing one of its MLA Naresh Balyan of running an extortion racket with the party's consent.
In a post on X, BJP played an audio clip of a purported conversation of the AAP MLA Naresh Balyan with the gangster. "Ye hain AAP ke 'Kattar Imandaar'... Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Balyan in a conversation with a gangster. The gangster asks why the AAP leader has filed a complaint against him. Balyan replies that he was being blackmailed by the gangster and his goons. The gangster responds that he would make some recording of Balyan viral, listening to which the MLA flips and starts singing like a canary," BJP said. "In another conversation, a close aide to Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Balyan is talking to a gangster about a land deal, and blackmailing several other businesspersons. Behind their garb of Imaandaari, all these AAP frauds are doing is Gundagardi!" it added.
BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya too targeted the AAP chief in a series of posts on X. "...Arvind Kejriwal is running an extortion network in Delhi and then blames the BJP for poor law and order," Malviya said. "...AAP has reduced Delhi to a cesspool of corruption," he added.
Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia and Delhi state president Virendra Sachdeva played an audio clip of purported conversation of the AAP MLA with the gangster. Bhatia alleged that AAP MLA Naresh Balyan was engaging in criminal activities with the consent of party chief Arvind Kejriwal and questioned whether the MLA would be expelled from the party. Bhatia claimed that the audio clip revealed Balyan discussing threats and intimidation tactics to extort money from a builder. He alleged that such behaviour reflects the character of the AAP and its leadership.
"Who is their (AAP) biggest supporter? It is the gangster who openly extorts money. And who asks them to extort money? Does the one who has taken the oath of the Constitution openly extort money with Kejriwal's permission?" he questioned.AAP MLA or it would be better if I say extortionist MLA Naresh Balyan, is talking to a gangster in this audio clip. The MLA is talking to the gangster like his brother. The MLA is indicating that a certain builder, a certain person, is being called, threatened, and intimidated. They discuss how to intensify threats, demand ransom, and distribute the money collected. This cannot be acceptable behaviour for any MLA, however, if the MLA is from a party of dishonest party convenor Arvind Kejriwal, then it is possible," he alleged.
Drawing parallels with the BJP-led Centre, Bhatia said, "On one hand, the law and order situation in Delhi is the responsibility of the Centre and it is our responsibility that everyone feels safe. On the other hand, the elected government of Delhi, who has taken the oath of the Constitution, threatens Delhiites and ensures that they do not feel safe. This is worrisome."
Bhatia also questioned Kejriwal's silence on the matter and demanded whether Balyan would be expelled from the party.
