Man slaps Arvind Kejriwal during road show, AAP challenges Delhi Police to prove attacker’s link to party 

Arvind Kejriwal.

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal was slapped by a man named Suresh Chauhan during his roadshow in Moti Nagar area, on Saturday, while canvassing for his party for the Lok Sabha election.

While referring to the attack as another “negligence” in the security of the chief minister, AAP called it an “opposition-sponsored attack”.

Another negligence in the security of CM @ArvindKejriwal.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal got attacked during the roadshow. We condemned this cowardly act. This opposition sponsored attack cannot stop the Aam Aadmi in Delhi.

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) May 4, 2019

AAP Delhi East candidate Atishi, in a tweet, also said the attack on Kejriwal was an “indicator of levels to which BJP can stoop”.

Today’s attack on @ArvindKejriwal is an indicator of levels to which BJP can stoop! They did the same thing before 2015 Delhi elections. In 2015, AAP won 67/70 seats and these attacks by BJP will ensure that AAP gets 7/7 seats in Delhi! #BJPScaredOfKejriwal

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) May 4, 2019

While supporting Kejriwal, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also said the attack on opposition leaders signals that the Bharatiya Janata Party had lost the Lok Sabha election and have become desperate.

Banerjee, in her tweet, called the attack as “political Vandalism.”

Political vandalism. Political goondaism. Political vendetta. Maligning and attacking Oppn leaders show that BJP have lost the election and are making desperate attempts. We condemn the attack on @ArvindKejriwal We are all with you, Arvind

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 4, 2019

Assailant sent to judicial custody

A day after, the police detained the 33-year-old Chauhan for attacking Kejriwal and he has been classified as a “security threat”. A senior police officer said, “We will keep him in custody for at least two days. It will be a risk letting him off at this stage.”

While denying police accusations that Chauhan was a “former AAP member who organized a few rallies in the past”, party spokesman Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “This is a blatant lie … We have already stated that the attacker’s family, particularly his wife, said he could not tolerate anyone speaking against Modi ji.”

He also added, ““Next lie of the Delhi Police is that this attacker used to organize AAP rallies. I would like to ask the Delhi Police commissioner which rally of our party did he organize? I challenge Delhi Police to put in public domain any supportive documents or evidence that they have to substantiate this wild claim.”

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