The Bharatiya Janata Party‘s Delhi unit boss, Virendra Sachdeva, and others were detained by police Thursday morning after a massive protest outside Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal‘s home over allegations his party spent Rs 45 crore to renovate his city residence when he was Chief Minister.
Visuals from the protest outside the bungalow formerly occupied by Mr Kejriwal, in Delhi’s Civil Lines area, showed hundreds of BJP supporters crammed into the street as slogans are shouted against the AAP and its National Convenor. The agitation comes months before the 2025 Delhi Assembly election.
Videos shared earlier by news agency ANI showed protesters standing on yellow metal barricades set up by Delhi Police, even as the cops and other security forces look on without seeming to take action.
#WATCH | Delhi: BJP leaders including Delhi BJP President and party workers were detained by the police as they were protesting near the residence of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, over the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ controversy. pic.twitter.com/qa0cSPIMIw
— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024
The protesters included the BJP’s newest recruit – former AAP leader Kailash Gahlot, who quit Sunday with a parting jab at Arvind Kejriwal over this very issue. In his resignation letter Mr Gahlot referred to the ‘sheeshmahal‘ controversy, as the BJP has dubbed this row, and declared it is “making everyone doubt whether we (the AAP) still believe in being the ‘aam aadmi‘ (the common man)”
READ | Kailash Gahlot Quits AAP, ‘Sheeshmahal’ Jab Parting Shot At Kejriwal
“We have come here to protest over the ‘sheeshmahal‘ issue. When I wrote that letter to Arvind Kejriwal, I said clearly the controversy was truly unfortunate and that it was an example of the compromise of the core principles of the Aam Aadmi Party,” Mr Gahlot told NDTV at the protest
“I think this time the BJP will form the government in Delhi. People are troubled because work was not done… sewers are overflowing, drinking water is not supplied, and roads are damaged. I am confident the people of Delhi will make the BJP win this time,” Mr Gahlot declared.
#WATCH | BJP leader Kailash Gahlot says, “We have come here to protest over the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ issue. When I wrote a letter to Arvind Kejriwal, I wrote clearly that a controversy has been created over Sheesh Mahal is truly unfortunate. This is an example of compromise with the… https://t.co/AN4l5xXME6 pic.twitter.com/7g3kMsur5A
— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024
Mr Sachdeva also spoke to NDTV and demanded that Mr Kejriwal tell the voters the source of funds gold-plated toilet seats and washbasins, and a TV set that reportedly cost Rs 27 lakh.
He had earlier declared the city’s Public Works Department Was stunned to see “extravagant” furnishings after Mr Kejriwal vacated the bungalow, the official residence of the Chief Minister of Delhi.
The AAP, however, has maintained that the new furnishings and upgrades were necessary as the Chief Minister’s residence had been built in 1942 and needed a complete overhaul.
They have also argued it was, in fact, the PWD that recommended the changes.
Kailash Gahlot’s AAP-BJP Jump
Mr Gahlot crossing the aisle has given the BJP a boost ahead of the next Delhi election. The former AAP leader was a senior minister in the Arvind Kejriwal government and seen as one of the frontrunners to replace the former Chief Minister when he resigned earlier this year.
But all of that seemed to unravel, with his sacking as Law Minister seen as triggering the end of his relationship with the party. This was in December 2023, after the Delhi government was juggling cabinet assignments after then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia resigned.
Delhi’s former Transport Minister joined the BJP on Monday in the presence of Union Minister ML Khattar, who described his induction as a “turning point”, especially before the election.
READ | “Didn’t Leave Due To Pressure”: Gahlot On AAP-BJP Switch
In his first comment as a BJP leader, Mr Gahlot rubbished talk his switch was the result of ‘pressure’ from federal investigative agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation or the Enforcement Directorate. Opposition parties have frequently accused the BJP of using the CBI or ED to harass rival leaders and force them to join the party, often just before an election.
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