Join BJP or face arrest: AAP’s Atishi shares threat; BJP calls media sensationalization

Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Minister Atishi has claimed that she was warned of arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the coming days unless she switched to the BJP.

In a press meet, Atishi also announced an alleged sinister plan has been hatched to arrest key AAP leaders, including Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, MLA Durgesh Pathak, and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, apart from herself.

Atishi's claims unfolded against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the AAP and BJP, exacerbated by recent developments. The arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the ED on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case linked to his government's excise policy has sent shockwaves through the political landscape. Kejriwal's subsequent judicial custody until April 15 has only added to the turbulence within Delhi's political arena.

The AAP, however, has refused to cower in the face of adversity, alleging that the BJP's machinations extend beyond mere arrests. Atishi further accused the BJP of attempting to destabilize the AAP by enticing its legislators and orchestrating the party's downfall.

Rituraj Jha, AAP's Kirari MLA, claimed he was offered a staggering sum of Rs 25 crore to defect to the saffron party, reinforcing the AAP's allegations of BJP's underhanded tactics.

In response to Atishi's allegations, Delhi BJP Secretary Harish Khurana issued a stern ultimatum, demanding that she either disclose the identity of her purported informant or face a police complaint filed by the BJP delegation. Khurana's assertion reflects the BJP's stance of denial, dismissing Atishi's claims as baseless attempts to sensationalize the media.

Atishi, undeterred by the BJP's rebuttal, remained resolute in her defiance, vowing to continue the AAP's fight against what she perceives as a concerted campaign of persecution orchestrated by the ruling party.

Drawing inspiration from historical figures such as Bhagat Singh, she emphasized the AAP's unwavering commitment to its principles, regardless of the adversities it faces.

While the AAP portrays itself as a bastion of integrity, steadfast in its resolve to combat corruption and injustice, the BJP dismisses these allegations as political theatrics aimed at deflecting attention from its own agenda.