Manoj Tiwari blames Delhi govt for Mayapuri violence

New Delhi: Addressing a Press conference on Sunday, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari blamed the Delhi government for the violence that erupted following the recent sealing drive in Mayapuri. Tiwari maintained that orders for the sealing drive did not come from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor and went on to accuse the Delhi government of pressurising the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to go ahead with the sealing operation.

"I want to make it clear that even the Mayor of SDMC is against it and he has not given any orders. SDM was pressurised for it," he said.

Further calling into question Arvind Kejriwal's reaction to the event, Tiwari said that the Chief Minister is deliberately trying to malign Narendra Modi's image. In a tweet, the Delhi CM had shared a video of police personnel attacking traders and said "it was shameful" that the Centre was treating citizens in this manner.

The MP from North-East Delhi went on to accuse the Delhi government of intentionally conducting the sealing drive on the day of Baishakhi and said that the BJP would never do something to harm traders. He said that the BJP has always supported the trader community.

"I am hurt by this incident and want to assure the traders that the BJP and its workers stand with you. PM Modi has resolved to give accident insurance of Rs 10 lakh, pension to traders after the age of 60, and formation of a Central Traders' Commission for solving various problems," he said.

Tiwari insinuated that the AAP-led Delhi government has chosen to blame the Centre for the sealing operation because it was intimidated by the BJP's manifesto, which was released earlier this month.