Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, accusing them of trying to "crush" the AAP in the name of fighting corruption as they feared a defeat in Gujarat polls.
Addressing the first-ever national conclave of his party's elected representatives, Mr. Kejriwal also alleged that the Modi government has been trying to frame his party ministers and leaders in false corruption cases as the BJP is "not able to digest the growing popularity of the AAP in Gujarat".
The BJP is so rattled by the AAP's growing influence ahead of Gujarat assembly elections that "the prime minister's advisor Hiren Joshi has warned several TV channels owners and their editors not to give coverage to AAP party in Gujarat, threatening them with dire consequences", the party's national convenor alleged.
No immediate reaction to Mr. Kejriwal’s charge was immediately available from the PMO or Mr. Joshi.
"Stop doing things. If these editors share the screenshots of Joshi's messages, both the prime minister and his advisor will not be in a position to show their faces to the country," Mr. Kejriwal said.
"We are going to form a government in Gujarat," he added.
In a veiled attack on the prime minister over his 'revadi culture' remark, Mr. Kejriwal said the AAP's freebies are being criticised on the ground that providing free facilities to people will ruin the economy of the country.
"Only a dishonest (person), a corrupt and a traitor will say freebies are not good for the country. If any politician says freebies will ruin the country's economy, consider his intentions are wrong." Mr. Kejriwal said.
