While BJP leaders walked out of the meeting alleging they had been “heckled and attacked”, AAP leaders said the BJP was objecting to media presence.
Three BJP MPs, three MLAs and two mayors had come to attend the meeting with AAP MLAs and Kejriwal. Credit: Twitter/AAP
New Delhi: The meeting convened by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday morning to discuss the controversial sealing drive in the Capital, lapsed into chaos as a team of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders walked out, alleging that they had been “heckled and attacked” at Kejriwal’s residence, reported NDTV.
The BJP said it “strongly condemned the planned attempt to heckle and attack by the chief minister’s supporters”. Kejriwal and other AAP leaders however said that the BJP leaders objecting to the presence of the media, “walked out” in the middle of the meeting.
After the meeting was aborted, Kejriwal told reporters that his government would appeal to the Supreme Court asking for a temporary ban on the sealing. “I am sad that this meeting could not take place. We will go to the Supreme Court with a petition. We also want the sealing to stop,” he said.
Three BJP MPs, three MLAs and two mayors had come to attend the meeting with AAP MLAs and Kejriwal. A row erupted as the the BJP team spotted a crowd of AAP legislators and media teams, according to NDTV.
Kejriwal argued that all meetings should be open and transparent. But the BJP accused AAP of making political capital of an issue affecting thousands of traders and trying to turn the chief minister’s meeting into a rally.
“The BJP team left the meeting without listening to (the chief minister). Are BJP representatives really serious on traders’ issues or (do) they just want to divert the issue from sealing by BJP governed authorities?” asked AAP leaders.
Vijender Gupta, leader of opposition in Delhi assembly, alleged misbehaviour by AAP leaders and workers. “The delegation was called and subjected to goondagardi,” he said, adding that he had filed a police complaint against AAP MLAs and others over the incident.
Kejriwal tweeted that he will visit markets hit by the sealing drive later in the day and meet the affected traders.
Since last month, Delhi’s municipal authorities have launched a drive to seal properties violating civic norms.
(With PTI inputs)