Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal called on the autorickshaw driver, who assaulted him on Tuesday, with a bouquet to buy peace a day before the Capital goes to poll.
Though Mr. Kejriwal had said after the incident that he saw a larger conspiracy behind the attack, his attacker Lali scotched the notion on Wednesday. He said he acted out of frustration at the AAP’s sudden exit from the Delhi government. Asked if he would still vote for the AAP, Mr. Lali explicitly expressed his support for the fledgling party.
Mr. Lali was a picture of contrition as he spoke to the AAP leader with folded hands, and even tried to touch his feet. “I committed a huge mistake. Mr. Kejriwal is the messiah of the poor in the Capital,” said the 38-year-old after the former Delhi Chief Minister called on him at his residence in Aman Vihar area of Outer Delhi.
“I apprehended that after his resignation as Delhi Chief Minister, the Capital would return to the terrible inspector raj where Delhi police personnel would harass rickshaw drivers. All other parties are useless. Only he can bring relief to the poor in the city.”
Lali had first garlanded the former Delhi CM during a roadshow at Kirari in North West Delhi and then slapped him hard leaving him with a swollen eye. This was the third attack on Mr. Kejriwal in less than a fortnight.
Lali was detained by the police but was let off as no complaint was lodged either by Mr. Kejriwal or the AAP.
Mr. Kejriwal later in the day also met Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi and requested to track the “mastermind” behind the attacks.