Delhi, January 30:
A major political controversy has erupted in Delhi between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after Rs 8 lakh in cash, liquor, and AAP campaign pamphlets were found in a car bearing a ‘Punjab Sarkar’ sign, just days before the upcoming assembly elections.
The BJP has accused the AAP government in Punjab of being directly involved in the recovery, while AAP has rejected the charges, calling it a scheme by the BJP in collusion with the Delhi Police.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva has alleged that Arvind Kejriwal, fearing a loss in Delhi, is resorting to tactics involving liquor and money, which he linked to past controversies surrounding liquor.
He further claimed that the vehicle, marked as a Punjab government car, was actually an AAP vehicle, with campaign material and Rs 10 lakh hidden inside. He accused Kejriwal of resorting to such methods as the Delhi elections approach, alleging ties to a liquor business and claiming the money used for the elections was coming from questionable sources.
BJP leader RP Singh added that the Election Commission of India should investigate the matter, as it was evident that Punjab’s government had a role in the incident, with their officers allegedly involved.
The BJP’s New Delhi candidate, Parvesh Verma, claimed that thousands of AAP workers had arrived from Punjab and that several vehicles marked with ‘Government of Punjab’ were being used.
In response, AAP quickly refuted the allegations. Party MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of attempting to tarnish AAP and the Punjab government’s reputation by using a “fake car and a fake number plate.”
Singh provided details about the number plate, claiming it belonged to a different vehicle previously owned by Major Anubhav Singh Puri, who was stationed at the Army Dental College in Pathankot. He further questioned the security implications of allowing fake vehicles to enter Delhi and demanded an inquiry by the Election Commission and Delhi Police into the matter.
The Punjab government also weighed in, challenging the BJP’s claims. It clarified that the vehicle involved in the incident was not an official Punjab government vehicle, asserting that the number plate was fake.
After conducting internal checks, the Punjab government stated, “We have searched our records and found that no such vehicle is owned or hired by the Government of Punjab. The apprehended vehicle does not belong to the Government of Punjab at all.”
With Delhi set to vote on February 5 for its 70 assembly seats, the counting will take place on February 8.
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