The alleged suicide of a woman AAP activist has triggered a political clash between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Delhi BJP.
While the AAP accused the BJP of playing politics “over dead bodies”, the BJP held the AAP responsible for the death of 28-year-old Soni and added that she took the step in reaction to “sexual harassment by few AAP members”.
The BJP also questioned Chief Minister “Arvind Kejriwal’s silence over the matter”.
‘BJP has hijacked family’
Reacting to the allegations, AAP spokesperson Ashutosh tore into BJP leader Vijender Gupta for allegedly “hijacking” the family of the victim. He also accused Mr. Gupta of coming in the way of Ms. Soni’s postmortem and added that the BJP leader was “forcing the family of the woman to name the AAP in the case”.
Mr. Ashutosh went on to accuse Mr. Gupta of “stooping” to an unprecedented low and alleged that the woman was to be cremated at 1 pm at Nigambodh Ghat, but even that could not take place.
“Mr. Gupta has taken the family of the victim somewhere. They are being forced to name the AAP in the case. What sort of politics is this?” Mr. Ashutosh said.
Soni’s husband
Meanwhile, Ms. Soni’s husband Ashok Mishra claimed her death was an abetment to suicide case and demanded justice. Mr. Mishra, speaking at a presser held by the BJP, said: “My wife and family were being threatened and harassed by some men, owing allegiance to AAP, for several months, driving her into depression.”
At a presser later, Mr. Gupta alleged that the entire AAP dispensation was “responsible” for Ms. Soni’s death.
Responding to allegations that it was politicising the issue, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said:“If we do not take up people’s issues then who will? We will try to get justice for the family and if needed will meet the Home Minister too.”
‘Accused is not from AAP’
AAP’s Delhi Convenor Dilip Pandey said the accused, Ramesh was not a member of the AAP as being claimed by the BJP. He added that the party had extended all possible help to Ms. Soni when she had approached it with the complaint. “It is a fact that she had contacted the party. The party assisted her and got an FIR lodged. In fact the CM’s Office had called the DCP office, but the police chose not to act and the accused secured bail. Mr. Gupta is politicising the issue. The BJP has a history of doing politics over dead bodies,” Mr. Pandey told reporters.
AAP says BJP playing politics over ‘dead bodies’, ‘hijacking’ Soni’s family; BJP questions CM’s silence
