Sharpening the BJP's attack on Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar Monday alleged that "there is plenty of proof you are a terrorist".
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Javadekar claimed the people of Delhi have turned their back on AAP for a reason.
"Delhiites who were in AAP's favour have also turned their back on the party and there is reason for it. Now, Kejriwal, with an innocent face is asking if he is a terrorist? There is plenty of proof that you are a terrorist. You had yourself said that you are an anarchist and there is not a lot of difference between an anarchist and a terrorist," Javadekar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Javadekar also raked up the issue of Kejriwal "staying a night at the Moga residence of Khalistani commander Gurinder Singh during the Punjab Assembly polls".
"You knew it was a militant's house. Still, you stayed there. How much more evidence do you need?" he said.
Flanked by Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari and Union minister Anurag Thakur, Javadekar said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was supporting Shaheen Bagh, where slogans of "Assam ko azadi", "Jinnah wali azadi" were being raised. "Supporting such slogans is also terrorism".
He alleged that Kejriwal stood with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where "anti-India slogans were raised, and did not grant sanction to prosecute (those who raised the slogans)".
"On January 26, you threatened that you would stop their prosecution. How much more proof do you need? The people of Delhi now know that you are the chief of liars, you are an anarchist and sympathise with terrorists.
"You are supporting Shaheen Bagh, JNU, the slogans being raised there and all such anarchists…then you are definitely a terrorist. This is your identity, no matter how innocent face you make," he said.
Reacting to the allegation, senior AAP leader and MP Sanjay Singh challenged BJP to arrest Javadekar, ANI reported. "This is happening in the capital of our country where the Central govt is sitting, the Election Commission is present. How can a central minister be permitted to use such language? If Arvind Kejriwal is a terrorist, I challenge BJP to arrest him," Singh said.
Last week, the Aam Aadmi Party filed a complaint with the Chief Election Officer against for calling Kejriwal a terrorist. In its complaint, AAP said by equating Kejriwal to the "anti-national forces" fighting India, Verma has tarnished the image of the chief minister.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal on Thursday had hit out at Verma for his comments and said that he was "hurt" by the accusations. "I have never thought of myself or my family… I have put my life in danger for the country… how have I become a terrorist?" he had said.
Senior AAP leaders had condemned Verma's comment and also sat on a protest outside the Election Commission of India office with some of their supporters.
(Inputs from theindianexpress)