BJP accuses AAP of corruption in its excise policy, Congress charges AAP with deflecting the issue
BJP accuses AAP of corruption in its excise policy, Congress charges AAP with deflecting the issue
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which rose to power on an anti-corruption wave in the Capital and went on to form the government here three successive times, is now defending itself against graft allegations, not by addressing charges directly, but by launching a slew of counter-allegations.
Since August 19, when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have tried to corner AAP on the issue of accepting “undue benefits” from liquor licensees.
AAP however, has stayed clear of rebutting the allegations of corruption, choosing instead to focus on building a narrative around what Mr. Kejriwal called the BJP’s “Operation Lotus” to “topple the government” in Delhi.
Apart from pitching its accomplishments in the sectors of health and education, AAP has reacted aggressively against the BJP’s alleged attempts to poach its MLAs, using the opportunity to pitch the Delhi Chief Minister as the principal opponent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Offer to join
Three days after the raid on his house, Mr. Sisodia alleged that the BJP had approached him with an offer to have all cases against him closed if he joined the BJP.
“My reply to BJP — I am a descendant of Maharana Pratap and a Rajput. I am ready to get beheaded but can never bow down before conspirators and corrupt people… Do whatever you want to do,” Mr. Sisodia said in a tweet in Hindi.
He did not share who at the BJP had made this offer to him, wher
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