Surat: A political controversy has broken out in Gujarat over posters that feature Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with slain Hijbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani, Hafiz Saeed and Osama bin Laden, calling them ‘heroes of Pakistan’ in Surat.
According to an Indian Express report, similar banners appeared in various parts of the city, where the Aam Aadmi Party leader is to hold a rally on October 16. An embarrassed AAP has accused BJP of being behind the posters, but the party had denied having anything to do with the posters.
“The banners had been put up by BJP workers as they don’t want Kejriwal meeting to take place. We have removed eight such banners. We are expecting over one lakh people to attend Kejriwal’s public meeting. AAP leaders Kumar Vishwas and Sanjay Singh will also accompany Kejriwal,” AAP spokesperson Yogesh Jadvani was quoted saying in the report.
He said the Kejriwal is also scheduled to meet Gujarat Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) spokesperson Varun Patel a day before his October 16 rally in Surat.
Nitin Bhajiyawala, the Surat city BJP president told the media that BJP workers have been instructed to not display any opposition to Kejriwal’s visit. He assured that the BJP workers would not put up such banners against the AAP.
With his eyes on the 2017 Assembly polls in Gujarat, Kejirwal will target the Patidar citadel in Mehsana, which incidentally is also the home district of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kejriwal is also expected hold talks with the dalit and OBC leaderships.
AAP leaders planning the visit indicated that to make the party’s presence felt in Gujarat, it needed to rise above caste equations and reach out to all communities.
